Click here to read this newsletter in Spanish, Chinese, or Russian.

Are you interested in learning more about the City’s progress on carbon reduction and other sustainability goals? Check out our new Sustainability Dashboard to see data from the City’s greenhouse gas inventories, progress on building electrification, zero waste, and more. The dashboard is available on the City’s website here.

The start of 2022 began with three months of record dry conditions in California. In response to increasing drought conditions, Mountain View City Council declared a Stage 2 Water Shortage Emergency Condition on June 28. The Stage 2 water shortage emergency includes several new water use restrictions, including a watering schedule based on street address (details below). To view all of the current restrictions, visit MountainView.gov/SaveWater.

●   Even Addresses: Irrigation allowed Tuesdays and Fridays.

●   Odd addresses: Irrigation allowed Mondays and Thursdays.

● Limit irrigation to 2 days per week.

●   No more than 15 minutes per irrigation station.

●   Water before dawn and after dusk.

View your water use history and track your usage at WaterInsight.MountainView.gov. For questions, please email [email protected] or call 650-903-6216.

Conserving water during our current drought is very important, and so is keeping our trees healthy! Many trees growing in the Bay Area require supplemental irrigation during the hot summer months and prolonged drought periods. The amount of water required by trees depends on the tree type, age and growing conditions. Young trees will require more frequent short watering, whereas older established trees prefer less frequent, deep watering.  

Mountain View partners with Canopy, a non-profit organization dedicated to planting trees, education and tree stewardship across the Midpeninsula. For more information on caring for your trees during the drought, view Canopy’s Tree Watering Guidelines.

For drought updates, visit MountainView.gov/Drought. For questions, please email [email protected] or call 650-903-6273.

In preparation for hotter summer temperatures, Mountain View residents are encouraged to sign up for FlexAlert notifications at FlexAlert.org. Flex Alerts let you know when energy conservation is needed and provide conservation tips. Sign up and help conserve energy when it matters most!

Are you ready to reduce your plastic use and find inspiration for reusable alternatives? Take the Plastic Free July challenge and join millions of people reducing their plastic waste. Choose from some easier first steps, or really challenge yourself to make a change!

Simple actions you can take are opting out of disposable foodware accessories like utensils and straws when you order takeout, or supporting businesses that allow customers to bring their own reusable containers. Organizations such as Silicon Valley Reduces allow you to find businesses near you that support reuse. Do you know a local café, restaurant, drink shop, market or other food vendor that accepts reusables? Contact Silicon Valley Reduces to let them know to add the business to the list!

The City of Mountain View has also taken steps to reduce unnecessary plastic waste as part of its zero waste goals. The City has ordinances prohibiting the use of polystyrene foam foodware and single-use plastic carryout bags, as well as internal policies prohibiting the use of City funds for purchasing single-use plastic water bottles. Additionally, our City Council recently adopted the new Foodware Ordinance which goes into effect January 1, 2023. These new regulations will prohibit the use of most types of disposable plastic foodware by restaurants and other food service businesses in Mountain View. For more information, visit MountainView.gov/Foodware.

July Tip: Eating in season. Eating seasonally is a great way to help the environment while getting the freshest, tastiest and most nutritious produce. As we come into summer, a few things coming into season include apples, avocados, berries, cantaloupe, watermelon, bell peppers, carrots and corn. A great way to make sure you’re buying seasonally is by shopping at your local Farmers’ Market. Check out a full list of what’s in season here.

Ride & Drive Clean Bay Area's EV Discount Campaign is just around the corner! Ride and Drive Clean is a nonprofit collaboration organizing a limited-time savings event with discounted pricing on various new battery-electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles.

Sign up to be notified when this spring’s Discount Campaign launches and the discount vehicles are announced!

Are you ready to electrify your home? SVCE is offering up to $2,000 in rebates to customers who replace their gas or electric resistance water heater with an efficient, electric heat pump version, decreasing harmful emissions in your home and community! View SVCE’s Heat Pump Water Heater Buyers Guide here.

An additional $3,000 in rebates is available for qualifying electric panel upgrades and income-qualified customers. Visit SVCE's website here to reserve your rebate.

The eHub features information on how change starts with clean electricity, how driving electric is the biggest single action you can take to stop pollution while saving money, and how you can improve your indoor air quality at home with efficient, electric appliances. Visit the new eHub here.

J​​oin certified arborist and horticultural expert Kevin Raftery and food and sustainability experts for a special one-way tree walk from Johnson Park to Gamble Garden. The walk will cover a variety of trees and you’ll learn about the delicious fruits they provide! The walk will begin at Johnson Park, at the Avocado Tree in the concrete tree well next to the playground. Please note that this is a one-way tree walk that ends at Gamble Garden approximately one mile from the start. Learn more and register here.

Did you recently purchase an EV? Join the City of Palo Alto for this online event, which will offer a deep dive on charging with clean, affordable energy at home, help you plan an EV road trip, and review incentives. Bring all your EV ownership questions so you can make your transition to driving electric smooth sailing. Learn more and register here.

The Bizerkeley Food Fest is the city of Berkeley's first and only vegan food festival. Come check out over a dozen food vendors, music, and so much more! The event will feature free samples of delicious vegan food, live performances, and food vendors from all different types of cuisine. Grab a ticket here before they sell out.

The City of Palo Alto Utilities put together some great guides on how to save energy in various home situations.

Want to stay updated on more Sustainability news and local events? Like us on Facebook! Follow us on Instagram!