In This Issue: New Year's Resolutions • Climate Smart Annual Survey • Electrify Your Home with Help • Help Us Choose a Climate Smart Design • Share Your Sustainability Snapshot • Nominate a 2025 Climate Smart Champion • Community Events, Opportunities, and Resources

Why Climate Smart?

Dive into San José’s comprehensive approach to tackling climate change with the San José Climate Chronicles, our new quarterly newsletter.

Since 2018, Climate Smart San José has been leading the way with initiatives like home-electrification rebates, community engagement, and the Pathway to Carbon Neutrality by 2030. This newsletter will showcase the City’s climate actions, highlight local community efforts, and share valuable resources, events, and opportunities to get involved.

Don’t miss out—subscribe now and be part of the journey toward a sustainable future at ClimateSmartSJ.org.

New Year's Resolutions to Help You Meet Your Sustainability Goals

By: Alexandria Patchett, California Climate Action Fellow, Climate Smart San José

As the calendar flips, many set new goals for the new year. Climate Smart has outlined a few simple yet impactful actions to help you live more sustainably in the year ahead.

Maximize Natural Light: To reduce heating costs, keep your drapes open during the day and close them at night.
Start Composting: Home composting is a great way to directly recycle your organic waste and helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Visit the Santa Clara County Composting Education Program website to learn more and sign up for a free composting workshop.
Use a Power Strip: To reduce wasted electricity, use a power strip to switch off multiple devices when they are not in use.
Try an Induction Cooktop: If you're considering an energy-efficient upgrade in your kitchen, consider an induction cooktop. Climate Smart offers a free Induction Cooktop Checkout Program.
Use more Sustainable Transportation: Make a commitment to ride public transportation at least once a week, bike using Bay Wheels—a bike-sharing service available in the Bay Area—or walk on warmer days.

Sign up for the Climate Smart Challenge platform to explore more sustainable practices, learn about available resources, and track your impact.

Take the Climate Smart Annual Survey

By: Jasmine Jain, Assistant Environmental Services Specialist, Climate Smart San José

Hey San José! We need your help to make a difference in our city's climate future on our Pathway to Carbon Neutrality by 2030. In an effort to improve our outreach and continue to empower the San José community to act on climate change, we invite you to share your thoughts on the City’s climate goals in the Climate Smart San José Annual Survey. Submit the survey by March 9, 2025, for a chance to win a Climate Smart prize bundle of San José merchandise, including a hat, t-shirt, and more eco-friendly goodies. The survey is available in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese, and your responses are anonymous. Complete the Climate Smart Annual Survey and let’s build a healthier, greener San José together.

Electrify Your Home with Help From San José Clean Energy

By: Patrick Begar, Senior Public Information Representative, San José Clean Energy (SJCE)

Going electric means removing gas equipment (furnace, water heater, stove, dryer) from your home and upgrading to newer, energy-efficient, electric heat pump technologies. These technologies provide more comfort and savings while improving indoor air quality and reducing your carbon footprint.

With the City’s EcoHome Rebate and Payment Plan, you can upgrade or replace your old appliances with heat pump electric technologies and qualify for up to $7,950 in rebates. Certain families and individuals may qualify for an additional $4,050 by meeting extra requirements. That’s up to $12,000 per home! If additional funding is needed for upfront costs, our EcoHome Payment Plan can provide up to $5,000 with an interest free payment plan.

With financial assistance, resources for finding a contractor, and a team you can contact for assistance, you can soon be living the clean electric dream! Visit the SJCE EcoHome Rebate website to learn more or contact us at SJCEPrograms@smud.org.

Help Us Choose a Climate Smart Design for Our Giveaways

We’re thrilled to present three Climate Smart designs featuring our San José placemark—and we need your input! The top-voted design will be featured on our upcoming giveaway items, and your votes will help us showcase our City’s commitment to sustainability in style.

Pick your favorite design by clicking one of the options below:

Design A

Design B

Design C

Share Your Sustainability Snapshot

Photo by: Rina Nguyen

Bike to Work Day Event attendees

Show us how you're achieving your New Year’s sustainability goals! Submit a photo of yourself taking action and upload it using the Climate Smart Photo Submission Form by March 15, 2025, to receive Climate Smart eco-friendly goodies as a thank you for inspiring others to live sustainably.

Nominate a 2025 Climate Smart Champion

Photo by: Rina Nguyen

San José Mayor Matt Mahan (far left) and San José Councilmember David Cohen (not pictured) presented awards to the 2024 Climate Smart Champions.

By: Jasmine Jain, Assistant Environmental Services Specialist, Climate Smart San José

Do you know someone making a big difference for San José’s climate goals? The Climate Smart Champion Awards are your chance to shine a light on those working to create a sustainable, carbon-neutral future for the community.

This annual awards program recognizes individuals, businesses, and organizations whose efforts align with the goals of Climate Smart San José like reducing greenhouse gas emissions, conserving energy, and fostering sustainable transportation. Winners are recognized and awarded at a City Council meeting for their outstanding contributions.

Award Categories:

Climate Champion of the Year
Mobility Champion
Energy Champion
Water Conservation Champion
Youth Climate Champion
Climate Smart Equity Champion

Consider who you would like to nominate as a Climate Smart Champion today! The 2025 Climate Smart Champions Nomination Form is now available for submissions. Additional details on how to submit your nominee can be found on the webpage. You can visit the Climate Smart Champions webpage to learn more about last year’s winners.

Community Events, Opportunities, and Resources

Community Events

Tet Festival – Hoi Xuan San Jose

February 9, 2025

Eastridge Center - 2200 Eastridge Loop, San Jose, CA 95122

Downtown Ice

November 21, 2024 - January 20, 2025

120 S Market St, San Jose, CA 95113

Visit Downtown Ice San Jose for more details

Check out the Climate Smart dasher!

Opportunities

Apply for the Climate Advisory Commission (CAC)

A vacancy is open on the CAC – Apply today at Boards and Commissions Application

Application deadline: March 30, 2025

Resources

The Switch is On: What is a Heat Pump?
Want to learn more about the City’s climate initiatives?

Join the Climate Smart Stakeholder virtual monthly meeting by emailing us at ClimateSmart@sanjoseca.gov to be added to the meeting invitation and receive meeting agendas and notes.

Would you like a presentation from a Climate Smart Expert?

Complete the Climate Smart Presentation Request Form to request a presentation for your community group, school, neighborhood association, or business. We typically provide an overview of Climate Smart San José and our initiatives to help reach the goal of carbon neutrality by 2030, but please let us know any areas of particular interest or focus, and we will customize the presentation accordingly.

Do you have a sustainability-related event, program, resource, or community spotlight you'd like to suggest for our next issue? Please fill out the San José Climate Chronicles: Submission Request form to submit your suggestion and nomination, or email ClimateSmart@sanjoseca.gov by February 1, 2025.

Please note: Due to our prioritization of certain topics, we cannot guarantee that your request will be included in the newsletter. If your submission is of interest, we will be in contact via email.

Learn more

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