bookmark_borderMontgomery County Community College Opens ‘Green’ Lot for Energy Efficient Vehicles

WHITPAIN TOWNSHIP, PA — This fall, Montgomery County Community College will open a brand new parking lot at its Central Campus designated, exclusively, for students, faculty and staff who carpool or who drive energy-efficient vehicles. Electric and hybrid vehicles are included in this class, along with conventional vehicles that have earned an EPA rating of 27 combined city and highway MPG or higher.

Drivers can apply for a permit to the 185-space parking lot, which is adjacent to the Advanced Technology Center, through the College’s online portal. Accepted applicants will receive an access card and parking decal. The lot will be open for general access parking on weekends.

The new parking lot is the first at MCCC to include charging stations for electric vehicles. Ten efficient GE Durastation charging stations at five pedestals will enable drivers to charge their electric vehicles in only four hours, half the time as a typical charge cycle of eight hours.

In addition to the charging stations, the lot includes a variety of additional “green” features, including:

• LED Lighting — The lot is lighted for maximum safety by energy-saving LED lamps. LED lighting consumes less energy, lasts longer and operates cooler than other lighting applications.

• Subsurface Infiltration System — The effects of runoff will be reduced as rainwater flows into the system, which assists in groundwater recharge and prevents downstream erosion.

• Rain Gardens — A “natural bowl” also helps alleviate the effects of erosion by collecting excess rainwater from both the Advanced Technology Center parking lot and the roof of Parkhouse Hall.

• Vegetated Swales with Check Dams — Compared to piping, these increase cost-effectiveness and slow the rate of runoff conveyance. They also provide aesthetic enhancement to the areas between parking spaces.

The green lot was developed in coordination with MCCC’s Climate Commitment Advisory Council, which works to reduce the College’s carbon footprint and promote sustainability education. To learn more about MCCC’s Sustainability Initiative, visit mc3green.wordpress.com.

bookmark_borderEnter the Philadelphia Recycling Contest

Win free groceries for a year.
Win a trip to Florida.

Philadelphia Recycling Rewards Sweepstakes
OFFICIAL RULES
The Philadelphia Recycling Rewards Sweepstakes (the “Philly Sweepstakes” or “Sweepstakes”) begins at 12:01 a.m. EST on April 1, 2012 (the “Philly Sweepstakes Start Date”) and ends at 11:59 p.m. EST on June 30, 2012 (the “Philly Sweepstakes End Date”) (such period referred to herein as the “Philly Sweepstakes Period”). The Philly Sweepstakes is sponsored by
Recyclebank, LLC (“Recyclebank”, or the “Sponsor”).
1. HOW TO ENTER:
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR CLAIM PRIZE. A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING.
To enter the Philly Sweepstakes, participants must take any of four (4) actions available on Recyclebank’s website, www.recyclebank.com. Participants will receive one (1) entry for every action taken:
 Register for a Recyclebank account.
 Refer-a-friend who becomes a member of Recyclebank (referred friends must become members of the Recyclebank website during the Philly Sweepstakes Period in order for the referral to count as an entry).
 Earn points for recycling or through other actions made available on Recyclebank’s website.
 Redeem points for rewards on Recyclebank’s website. You may also redeem points for rewards via the Recyclebank Customer Care Center.
To enter the Philly Sweepstakes by mail, print your first and last name, complete address, city, state, zip code, daytime telephone number, date of birth, and e-mail address (if available) on a three-by-five-inch card. Put the card in an envelope, affix first-class postage, and send it to Recyclebank at the address provided under Section 7. No illegible, incomplete, forged or altered
entries will be accepted.  All entries must be received by Recyclebank. Sweepstakes entry limited to one (1) entry per post-card. Multiple Sweepstakes entries through multiple post-cards or multiple actions as described above are permitted. Mechanically reproduced entries not accepted.
All entries become the property of Recyclebank and will not be returned.
Participation in the Philly Sweepstakes is voluntary and does not require you to purchase anything from Recyclebank. All entries are subject to Recyclebank’s Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions.
2. PHILLY SWEEPSTAKES PRIZES:
Grand Prize: One (1) grand prize winner will receive one (1) year of free groceries from one of the following grocery stores: Whole Foods, Shop Rite and Fresh Grocer. Maximum prize value is $5,000.
First Prize: Ten (10) first prize winners will receive twelve (12) monthly Septa transit passes.  Approximate retail value of each pass is $83. Total approximate retail value of each first prize is $996.
Alternatively, first prize winners may opt to receive $500 cash, in lieu of the Septa transit passes.
Second Prize: Twenty (20) winners will receive a $100 Gift Card from Target to be provided either via email or hard copy. Total approximate retail value of each second prize is $100.
The odds of winning are affected by the number of eligible entries received by Recyclebank during the Philly Sweepstakes Period. Total approximate retail value of all Philly Sweepstakes
prizes: $16,960 (actual value may vary). Allow 3-4 weeks after validation of arrangement for receipt of prize. The actual number of prizes awarded is based on the number of eligible entries received. There is no substitution, cash equivalent or transfer of prizes allowed except where specified. Winners will be solely responsible for all other expenses not specifically set forth herein. Recyclebank reserves the right to substitute prizes of equal or greater value. No other substitution or transfer of prizes permitted. Recyclebank is responsible only for prize delivery; not responsible for prize utility, quality or otherwise. In order to receive a prize, winner may be required to provide proof of identification. Any and all taxes on any prize, including income and/or sales taxes, are the sole responsibility of the winners. However, Recyclebank may elect to cover all or a portion of such tax liability, in Recyclebank’s sole and absolute discretion.

3. ELIGIBILITY:
The Sweepstakes is only open to legal residents of the United States who reside within the city limits of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and who are at least eighteen (18) years of age at the time of entry. Entries are limited to individuals only; commercial enterprises and business entities are not eligible. By participating in the Sweepstakes, each participant accepts the conditions stated in these Official Rules, agrees to be bound by the decisions of the Sponsor and warrants that she/he is eligible to participate in the Philly Sweepstakes, as applicable. Employees, independent contractors, officers, and directors of the Sponsor, affiliates, subsidiaries, advertising, promotion, and fulfillment agencies, legal advisors, and their immediate family members and persons living
in the same household, are not eligible to participate in the Sweepstakes.

THE SWEEPSTAKES IS VOID WHERE PROHIBITED OR RESTRICTED BY LAW and is subject to applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations.
4. SELECTION OF WINNERS:
Twice during the Philly Sweepstakes Period, and once after the Philly Sweepstakes End Date, the Sponsor will randomly select the winners. Winners will be selected from all eligible entries received at the time of the drawing. Drawings for the prizes will occur as follows:
 Drawing #1: Based on entries received through April 30, 2012
 Two (2) first prize winners
 Five (5) second prize winners
Drawing #1 winners will be announced by May 20, 2012.
 Drawing #2: Based on entries received through May 31, 2012
 Two (2) first prize winners
 Five (5) second prize winners
Drawing #2 winners will be announced by June 20, 2012.
 Grand Prize Drawing: Based on entries received through June 30, 2012
 One (1) grand prize winner
 Six (6) first prize winners
 Ten (10) second prize winners
Grand Prize winners will be announced by July 20, 2012.
The winners for the Philly Sweepstakes will be notified by e-mail using the information provided when the participant entered the Philly Sweepstakes. Such notification shall include instructions for proper acceptance of the prizes by the winners. In the event a winner does not accept a prize, a winner is ineligible, or the prize or prize notification is not deliverable, an alternate winner may
be selected. The Sponsor is not responsible for and shall not be liable for late, lost, misdirected or unsuccessful efforts to notify a winner. The winners agree to Sponsor’s use of their name, address, likeness, and/or prize information for promotional purposes in any medium without additional compensation to the extent permitted by law. Where lawful, the winners may be required to sign and return an Affidavit of Eligibility, Release of Liability, and Publicity Release (the “Release”). If the winner is a minor, the Release must be completed by the minor’s parent or legal guardian. Upon a Sweepstakes entry being selected, all other entries submitted by that
participant shall be disqualified for any further prizes other than the Grand Prize.
5. CONDITIONS: The Sponsor, and its respective agents, directors, officers, shareholders, employees, insurers, servants, parents, subsidiaries, divisions, affiliates, predecessors, successors, representatives, advertising, promotion, and fulfillment agencies, and legal advisors (the “Released Entities”), are not responsible for, shall not be liable for, and hereby disclaim all liability arising from or relating to: (i) late, lost, delayed, damaged, misdirected, misaddressed, incomplete, or unintelligible entries; (ii) telephone, electronic, hardware or software program, network, Internet, computer or other malfunctions, failures, or difficulties of any kind, whether human or technical; (iii) failed, incomplete, garbled, or delayed computer or e-mail transmissions; (iv) any condition caused by events beyond the control of the Sponsor; (v) any injuries, losses, or damages of any kind arising in connection with or as a result of any prize, or any portion thereof that may have been awarded, or acceptance, possession, or use of any prize, or any portion thereof that may have been awarded, or from participation in the Sweepstakes; or (vi) any printing or typographical errors in any materials associated with the Sweepstakes. The Sponsor reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to suspend, modify or cancel the Sweepstakes or any component of the Sweepstakes should any unauthorized human intervention or other causes beyond the Sponsor’s control corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness or proper conduct of the Sweepstakes. In the event that proper administration of the Sweepstakes is prevented by such causes as contemplated above, the Sponsor will pick the winners from all eligible, non-suspect entries received prior to such action. By participating in the Sweepstakes, participants and winners agree to release, discharge and hold harmless the Released Entities, and all others associated with the development and execution of the Sweepstakes, from any and all losses, damages, rights, claims and actions of any kind arising out of or relating to the Sweepstakes, participation in the Sweepstakes, any prize, or any portion thereof that may have been awarded, and/or acceptance, possession, use or misuse of any prize, or any portion thereof that may have been awarded, including but not limited to statutory and common law claims for misappropriation or participant’s right of publicity. This Sweepstakes shall be governed by New York law. By participating in this Sweepstakes, participants agree that New York courts shall have jurisdiction over any dispute or litigation arising from or relating to this Sweepstakes and that venue shall be only in New York, New York.
6. WINNERS LIST: To obtain the first name, last initial, city and state of the Philly Sweepstakes winners after the Philly Sweepstakes End Date, send a separate self-addressed, stamped envelope marked “Philly Recycling Rewards Sweepstakes Winners List” to the
Sponsor. Requests for the winners list must be received no later than ninety (90) days from the Sweepstakes End Date (residents of Vermont and Washington need not include return postage).

7. SPONSOR: Recyclebank LLC
Philly Sweepstakes
95 Morton Street, 7th Floor
New York, NY 10014
8. NOTICE: The Sponsor reserves the right to prosecute and seek damages against any individual who attempts to deliberately undermine the proper operation of the Sweepstakes in violation of these Official Rules and/or criminal and/or civil law.

Copyright © 2011 Recyclebank, LLC. All rights reserved. Recyclebank and the associated logos are trademarks of Recyclebank, LLC. Any other trademarks in these Official Rules are used for prize identification purposes ONLY and are the properties of their respective owners.

bookmark_borderPhiladelphia See The Light

Philadelphia, PA – The Department of Licenses and Inspections (L&I) has implemented two ordinances designed to encourage the use of solar panels systems in Philadelphia. Sponsored by Councilman Jim Kenney, the two ordinances amend the Philadelphia Building Construction and Occupancy Code to greatly reduce the costs of securing both electrical permits and building permits for solar panel systems (also known as photovoltaic systems).

Licenses and Inspections Commissioner Fran Burns stated, “These changes are not only part of the ongoing reform and focus on supporting business development, but also a step towards ensuring a sustainable and competitive future for Philadelphia and its residents. I am excited to support this energy option since solar panel systems decrease dependence on fossil fuels and reduce the risks of rising energy costs in the long-run.”

Commenting, Councilman Jim Kenney said, “Today we move Philadelphia in the right direction, towards a more sustainable and greener future, while also encouraging economic development and job creation. As we continue down this green path, we must be open to further innovation and development of cleaner fuel sources.”

Passed by Council and signed into law by Mayor Nutter in the 2011 Term, Bills 110533 and 110829 amend the Code to exclude the costs of solar panels and inverters in calculating electrical permit and building permit fees when a photovoltaic system is installed.

In 2009, the Mayor’s Office of Sustainability released the landmark Greenworks report, setting a variety of sustainability goals, including a key target of purchasing and generating 20 percent of electricity used in Philadelphia from alternative energy sources. The passage and implementation of these code amendments are important steps towards meeting the vision of Greenworks — to make Philadelphia the Greenest City in the United States.