Start 2022 off right with a fresh commitment to making your community and the planet a better place. The City of Mountain View is re-launching a program for residents and we’d love your participation. The Cool Block program focuses on three main themes: community building, sustainability, and disaster preparation, and resilience.
If you’re interested in any of these topics, please join us for a virtual information session on October 16, 19, or 25 to learn more about the program and how to get involved. Over about 5 months, Cool Block consists of 8 meetings to get to know your immediate neighbors, discuss a variety of topics, work on actions together, and share your successes.
Register for one of the virtual October information sessions here.
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Tuesday, November 2nd, 6:30-7:30pm |
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Join us for the third event in our plant-based eating series! We are excited to host Monica Chen, Executive Director of the Factory Farming Awareness Coalition, to share about the environmental impacts of our food choices.
Factory Farming Awareness Coalition is an educational nonprofit that contributes to the eradication of factory farming through a range of educational programs. Every year they educate and empower thousands of people about the social justice, health, and environmental impacts of our food system. Join us to learn how you can make a big difference for the environment and your own health by including more plant-based foods in your diet.
Register for the November 2 virtual event here.
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Electrify Your Life- Coming Soon!
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Interested in going electric to save money and help the planet, but not sure where to start? The City will soon launch its newest resource called Electrify Mountain View. This online platform will offer personalized recommendations on how to electrify all aspects of your life. At no cost, you will be able to learn about actions such as driving an EV, installing solar power or a heat pump water heater, and cooking with an induction stove. To sign up to be notified about the upcoming launch, visit MountainView.gov/Sustainability.
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All About Electric Vehicles - Coming Soon!
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If you have ever thought about purchasing an electric vehicle (EV) or are curious and want to learn more, this two-part series is a great place to start. EV 101 is an engaging overview and Q&A covering the available and upcoming EV models, long-term savings, charging at home and on the road, environmental benefits, and financial incentives and tax credits. EV 201 will dive deeper into specific topics, focusing on how to find the right EV model and options for you. Keep an eye on our newsletter for the dates of our upcoming EV 101 and 201 workshops to learn how electric vehicles can benefit you and the planet!
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In case you haven’t heard, Caltrain will implement a new, 104-train schedule with more trains than ever before and offer 50% off all tickets and passes for September. Hop on board with the return of the Baby Bullet express train and check out the coordinated BART transfer at Millbrae. Whether going to work, school, or traveling for fun, check out what's going on at Caltrain!
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Have you been looking for ways to retrofit your home to be more energy efficient? Do you think it’s time for you to switch to all electric appliances, or get an electric vehicle? Look no further than this new guide by Redwood Energy, in collaboration with Menlo Spark and the Bay Area Air Quality Management District. It’s a comprehensive guide on everything you need to know to make your home and vehicle a "Zero Emissions All-Electric" powerhouse! Read the guide here.
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Have you ever been curious about how energy consumption is distributed across the Bay Area? Are you interested in learning how energy is used across different demographics? Bay Area Renewable Energy Network (BayREN) has created a great tool, in partnership with UCLA, that breaks down energy consumption along residential income, building types, building sizes, and more! Check out this fascinating visualization here.
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SVCE Heat Pump Water Heater Rebates |
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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.
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Silicon Valley Clean Energy (SVCE) has launched a free online resource to help Mountain View residents make easy, informed choices about switching to all-electric living.
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.
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Were you impacted by a Public Safety Power Shutoff this year? SVCE has launched a new program with Sunrun to help customers install solar and battery storage systems to prepare for future power outages. If you choose to enroll in Lights On Silicon Valley, you can get an up-front rebate of $1,250 by agreeing to share some battery energy with the electricity grid during peak times, and only when there isn’t an outage. This rebate is available on top of other rebates and tax credits!
With this program, you get access to backup power, reduce your energy costs, and help our community develop a clean-energy power grid. Win-win-win! Interested participants can sign up for more information here.
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Income qualified residents who own a model year 2004 or older vehicle can receive up to $9,500 to retire their old vehicle and purchase or lease a new or used electric vehicle. Funding is available for electric vehicle charging equipment as well. You can also get a pre-loaded Clipper card (up to $7,500) for turning in your old vehicle. Incentive options vary depending on income and zip code.
Check if you are eligible for the Clean Cars for All program and apply here.
For additional information about this program, please contact (855) 256-3656 or [email protected].
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What is Senate Bill 1383?
S.B. 1383 is a comprehensive set of measures designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from organic waste in California by keeping it out of landfills. The bill requires cities to meet a variety of new requirements beginning in 2022, including:
- Compost collection for all residents and businesses.
- Food service businesses must donate surplus edible food to recovery organizations.
- Standardized statewide colors and signage for trash, recycling, and compost carts.
- Education and outreach materials to ensure proper sorting of waste.
- Procurement of recycled organics products including paper, mulch, and compost.
City staff are working to implement these regulations. Compost services are now available to all businesses and residents including apartment complexes. To sign-up, contact [email protected]. An ordinance mandating compost participation and food recovery will go to the Council for approval this fall. Distribution of new recycling carts with compliant colors and signage is in progress. Internal planning is underway to meet the organic product purchasing targets. For more S.B. 1383 information, visit CalRecycle’s website.
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Get the Facts: New Recycling Split Carts
You may have noticed new recycling split carts with blue lids in your neighborhood. Deliveries began in August and will continue through December 2021. The City must update cart lid colors and labels to meet the S.B. 1383 statewide recycling color standardization of dark blue for paper/cardboard and light blue for containers. Check out the Frequently Asked Questions to understand why the City is replacing recycling carts now and what happens to the old carts:
- Most carts have exceeded their useful life – over 15 years old.
- It is more cost-effective to replace in bulk.
- Old carts are 100% recyclable and will not go to landfills. Recology will reuse removed carts in good condition (clean/replace lids).
- The City must comply with State law S.B. 1383 color-standardization and signage requirements.
- Avoiding a mix of old and new cart colors and signage will help maintain clear and consistent public messaging.
For more information, please read our FAQ on cart replacement here, and email [email protected] with any questions.
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The “Dirty Dozen” are 12 types of items that can mislead anyone trying to recycle right. These items seem recyclable but actually contaminate the process. Keep these items out of your recycling cart.
Frozen and refrigerated food boxes like microwaveable meal boxes and butter boxes can’t be processed with other paper pulp at the mill because they are designed not to break down when wet. The exception is aseptic cartons for milk, juice, soup, etc., which go in the container recycling (light blue side on new recycling split carts). Please place frozen and refrigerated food boxes in the trash. Learn more about the Dirty Dozen here.
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Find out how to build healthy soil through backyard composting at a FREE, hands-on workshop for residents. This workshop will be offered both in-person and online as a simultaneous webinar. Register online or by calling 408-918-4640. Other dates and locations are available. If you plan to attend in person, face coverings are required for all except the medically exempt or children under the age of two.
- Saturday, October 16, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
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The next free confidential paper shredding will be on Saturday, November 6 with new expanded hours! Proof of residency is required, but no appointment is needed. Limit of five bags or banker boxes per household.
- Saturday, November 6, 8 a.m. – 3 p.m.
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More Virtual Activities + Resources |
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Since all jurisdictions in Santa Clara County – cities, towns, and the county – are updating their Housing Element, the Santa Clara County Planning Collaborative is inviting all residents to join in on the conversation!
Let’s Talk Housing Santa Clara County is a regional effort to provide information on why the Housing Element matters, how the process works, and how you can be involved. Join us for a Digital Open House to learn more about the Mountain View Housing Element Update. Your ideas will help to shape the priorities for our future housing policy.
- Thursday, September 23, 6:30 - 8:00pm
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Never go to a gas station again. We'll show you how! Learn about the benefits of driving an electric vehicle, charging basics, rebates, the latest makes and models, and what’s in store for the future. Then ask about specific makes and models in breakout rooms hosted by experienced EV owners. Presented by Acterra in partnership with the Citizens Environmental Council. Admission is free. This National Drive Electric Week event is made possible through the generous support of Peninsula Clean Energy.
- Sunday, October 3, 4:00 - 5:30pm
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A cross-section of industry experts will discuss flexible work options, transportation, and higher education considerations around employee satisfaction and sustainability. Join the discussion with these experts:
- Camille Johnson, PhD, Associate Dean for Research and Faculty Success, College of Social Sciences, San Jose State University
- Christine Luong, Sustainability Manager, City of Palo Alto
- Amelia Timbers, Principal Planner, Sustainability, Caltrain/SamTrans
- Thursday, September 30, 1:00 - 2:30pm
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Burrowing Owl Restoration Opportunities |
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Did you know we have a burrowing owl habitat in Shoreline Park? We've been planting native plants there to help increase the population of the burrowing owl's prey base, and, thus, the burrowing owls, a California Species of Special Concern.
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The City of Palo Alto Utilities put together some great guides on how to save energy in various home situations.
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Want to stay updated on more Sustainability news and local events? Like us on Facebook! Follow us on Instagram!
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Subscribe to this newsletter here.
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Read previous newsletters here.
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