Anuraag Jhawar

Anuraag is a fourth-year student at UCLA studying Environmental Science with a minor in Environmental Engineering. Originally from San Diego, California, he hopes to find a career in sustainability, the aspect of the field that captivates him the most. In addition to his studies, Anuraag is the director of Online Marketing for the UCLA Campus Events Commission, a student-run organization that programs free films, concerts and speaking events for students. Anuraag's interests are not just limited to the environment, and also include technology, music, and web design.

Metro Considers Extending Green Line to LAX

Trying to get to the airport and don’t have a car? It might be a lot more trouble then you’d think. While there are a few options for getting to LAX, from taxis to buses to the Flyaway shuttle, you’re almost definitely guaranteed traffic, a hassle, and a headache by the end of your journey. In an attempt to alleviate the troubles of getting to the airport, the Metro is currently investigating its options for extending public transportation to LAX, including extending the current Green Line to run to Los Angeles International Airport.

Most Hybrid Repairs Don’t Need To Be Left to the Dealer

Hybrid car owners in California have long enjoyed the benefits of HOV-lane access, even when they are driving solo. This perk has recently been lost, and hybrid owners might find themselves subject to the same traffic woes as drivers of classic gasoline vehicles – and also subject to the same wear & tear that may result from longer commutes. While it may be easy to believe that hybrid vehicles need more specialized maintenance only available at the dealership, the experts at AutoMD.com have published five basic car repairs for hybrids that can be handled by your neighborhood auto-shop, or even by DIY (do -it-yourself)-savvy owners.

Santa Monica Launches Mobile Haz-Mat Disposal Service

Denizens of the green City of Santa Monica no longer have to wonder how to dispose of certain hazardous material. A new initiative by the Office of Sustainability and the Environment will now bring disposal and containment trucks to you, rather than residents having to haul potentially toxic wastes to a disposal center. Accepting all the same materials as the physical disposal center, these new trucks collect everything from auto products to prescription medications.

Cal State LA Activates New Solar Installation

Cal State University, Los Angeles further bolstered its reputation as a “green” campus with the installation of a new photovoltaic (PV) system on campus. The 77 panel system was activated in late July, and has been actively offsetting the energy demands of the Engineering and Technology building it sits above. After years of development, students and faculty are finally seeing their solar project come to fruition.

City of LA Votes to Bring Recycling Programs to Apartment Complexes

It might surprise you to hear that single-family homes in Los Angeles divert 65% of its garbage from landfills, thanks to the effort of over 450 gas-powered trash and recycling trucks. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for the city’s 600,000 + apartment complexes, but change is in the air. While tenants of commercial buildings and apartments complain about the noise, emissions and congestion on local roads caused by the multitude of private waste trucks, the Bureau of Sanitation must balance their concerns with the fears of the waste haulers who currently compete for the 250 million dollar annual market in waste disposal.

LA Investigates Bike Sharing Program

Inhabitat has reported before about the implementation of large-scale urban bike sharing programs, but it looks like we’re one step closer to a bike sharing reality in Los Angeles. As far back as 2009, the Department of Transportation had shown interest in the development of a bike sharing service for the City of Los Angeles, but until recently there was no word on when such a program would come to fruition. Recently, a motion supported by the County Supervisor, Los Angeles Mayor Villaraigosa, and Santa Monica Councilwoman O’Connor ordered the staff of the LA County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) to consider the possibility of using existing Metro stations as bike sharing facilities.

Santa Monica to Ban Plastic Bags

Starting next month, the phrase “Paper or Plastic?” will become obsolete in the City of Santa Monica. Spurred by the likes of Heal the Bay and other environmental activist groups, the local City Council voted unanimously in January to ban the plastic bag in all parts of the city, beginning enforcement in September. Although often considered one of the more sustainable cities in the greater Los Angeles region, Santa Monica is not necessarily a first mover in California when it comes to the ban. The city will be joining the likes of San Francisco, San Jose, and the unincorporated ares of Los Angeles County which are all taking efforts to put an end to the amount of waste and harm caused by the unnecessary use of plastic bags.