Earth Day 2020 Resource Guide
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Happy Earth Day! We hope this finds you and your family healthy and connected…
thriving in fact.
If this has been a challenging time for you, we extend our deepest sympathies.
We have been given a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to reconnect with family, friends, and neighbors in a new way, and help improve both our local communities and the health of the planet. And, when things return to normalcy again, we will have a choice about which of these new behaviors we continue, and which we do not. This is the earth’s gift to us;
may we choose wisely
.
Although we had to cancel our in-person Earth Day festival due to COVID-19, we still wanted to celebrate the
50th Anniversary
of this special day. As an alternative, we worked with 29 other Bay Area organizations and four City of Mountain View divisions to create this
Earth Day 2020 Resource Guide
for you. It is full of actions to take from home, videos to watch, activities to do with kids, resources to help you save on utility bills, and more. Take action today!
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Share Your Earth Day Actions and Ideas
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Besides reviewing our
Earth Day 2020 Resource Guide
, how are you celebrating Earth Day this year? Do you have any ideas for actions to take at home or activities to do with kids? Please share your ideas with us and the Mountain View community
here
. You can view and "like" ideas that others share as well.
While you're on
Collaborate Mountain View
, visit the "
What Can I Do?
" page to see a list of actions we recommend for advancing sustainability in your life and your community. There is a lot that can be done from home!
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Carbon Neutrality Resolution
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Exciting news! Last night, the City Council passed a resolution for Mountain View to become a
carbon neutral city by 2045
. This means that in addition to achieving the adopted 2045 greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction target of 75% below 2005 levels, Mountain View has committed to balancing any remaining GHG emissions with carbon sequestration projects (such as planting trees or restoring wetlands) and/or carbon offsets. You can read the full resolution
here.
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2018 Government Operations Greenhouse Gas Inventory
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Last night, the City Council also adopted the 2018 Government Operations GHG Inventory. This inventory estimates the greenhouse gas emissions resulting from the City’s operations, including energy use, fleet vehicles, employee commuting, and operation of the Shoreline landfill. We’re excited to report that we’ve successfully
reduced our GHG emissions 51%
since 2005, exceeding even our 2030 reduction target! You can read the full report
here
.
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SVCE Community Energy Resiliency Grants –
April 30 Deadline!
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Do you have a solution to cut emissions and advance resiliency? Apply for up to $100,000 in grant funding!
Applications are now open for
Silicon Valley Clean Energy’s Innovation Onramp
. This program grants funding to cutting-edge projects that address key technical, market and policy barriers to achieving significant carbon reductions in our community and beyond. Depending on the stage of the project, grant funds up to $100,000 are available for demonstrations and $75,000 for proofs of concept.
For Spring 2020, applications focused on energy resiliency solutions with the potential to achieve significant carbon emission reductions will be prioritized. But all relevant projects are still welcome to apply! Projects may take the form of innovative hardware technologies, software and data, policies and programs or education and outreach. Project evaluation is based on community value, emissions impact, scalability, equity in service, and core role for SVCE.
For program criteria and to apply, visit the
SVCE website
.
Applications will be accepted until April 30, 2020.
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Income qualified residents who ow
n 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.
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This section will share program updates, upcoming events, and all news related to Zero Waste. Contact Recycling & Zero Waste staff with any questions about the Recycling & Zero Waste program at
recycle@mountainview.gov or (650) 903-6311.
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Changes to Nonessential Trash and Recycling Services
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Stay up to date on changes to solid waste services and programs during the shelter in place order at
MountainView.gov/Recycle
.
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Tips for Managing Trash Levels
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Recology cannot service any material outside of residents’ carts at this time. Follow these tips to minimize your trash and maximize your cart space. Contact Recology if you are in need of additional service before your next collection day.
- Break down and cut up cardboard boxes to make room in your recycling cart.
- Cut plastic clamshells (such as takeout containers) apart at the hinge and nest them together to make room in your trash cart.
- When ordering take-out, request no utensils or condiments if you have what you need at home.
- Save room in your trash cart by putting all food scraps and all food-soiled paper in the compost cart, including pizzeria boxes.
- If your recycling cart is full but you have leftover capacity in your trash cart, you can put recyclables in the trash cart so that both are full on your regular service day. Recyclables will be sorted at the SMaRT Station. If you have space, store cardboard or other recyclables to be put out in your recycling cart when it has capacity. This will help reduce the number of extra collections needed.
NOTE:
Residents must store batteries, fluorescent bulbs, cooking oil, and motor oil until regular services resume. Do not place these items in any cart.
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Use these tips to minimize your food waste and reduce your trips to the store.
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- Use up over-ripe fruit by baking it into a pie or bread (maybe add in some leftover holiday chocolates!).
- Roast leftover or soft veggies and add to soups or sides.
- Freeze vegetable peels and meat bones to make stock. Keep a bag or container of scraps in the freezer as you prepare meals, and then use these scraps to make stock or broth for a homemade soup.
- Freeze ripe fruit that you won’t eat in time to put in a smoothie later.
- “Use By” or “Best By” dates don’t necessarily mean “Bad By.” If stored properly, a food product should be safe, wholesome, and of good quality after the “Use By” or “Best By” date. Trust your sense of smell and taste to know when food has gone bad. For more information, visit fda.gov and search for “food product dating.”
- Use your fridge crisper drawers properly. Adjust the humidity setting on the drawer (if you have one) to high for leafy greens or low for non-leafy vegetables.
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As an added precaution, some businesses are not accepting reusable food ware or reusable bags at this time. It is most important to prioritize the health and safety of essential workers and follow these guidelines.
Are reusables sanitary, and is it safe for me to use them once they are allowed again?
Yes, reusables are sanitary and safe to use when properly washed. Soap and hot water are effective at killing viruses and bacteria. Home and commercial dishwashers are more effective relative to hand-washing because of the added benefit of a prolonged wash cycle at high temperatures. As with non-reusables, be sure not to let your reusable cup touch the spigot or dispenser when filling up with water or coffee. Reusable grocery and produce bags can go in the washing machine with other laundry. Common sense and good hygiene practices are all you need to keep reusables sanitary and safe.
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More Shelter-In-Place Activities
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Earth Day Live will feature a three-day livestream where people can join activists, celebrities, musicians, and more in a "moment of community and hope for the future." RSVP to the livestream and learn more
here.
- April 22-24 (various times)
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In celebration of Earth Month, Our City Forest (OCF) will be hosting a variety of virtual events for attendees to learn more about urban forestry and environmentalism.
- Planet Tree: High School (YouTube Live)
- Thursday, April 23, 11am-12pm
- Eddie's Top 3 Spring Bloomers (Instagram Live)
- Friday, April 24, 11am-12pm
- Volunteering with OCF Webinar (Instagram Live)
- Saturday, April 25, 11am-12pm
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Join Citizens’ Climate Lobby to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day. In this webinar, you will hear from climate leaders, learn about quick actions to take to address climate change, and receive training for climate advocacy and organizing. This virtual event features Dr. Katharine Hayhoe, a world-renowned climate scientist. Learn more and register
here
.
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- Saturday, April 25, 1pm-4pm
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Looking to dive deep into some potential California climate solutions? Check out this recorded webinar, co-hosted by UC Berkeley's Energy and Resources Group and Goldman School of Public Policy. Watch it
here.
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PG&E is offering free classes and upcoming webinars. The course offerings are designed for complete novices to energy experts. Learn more and sign up
here.
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Although the Mountain View Public Library is closed, its Digital Library is still open! Access eBooks, eAudioBooks, streaming services, and more
here. If you do not have a library card, you can apply for a temporary one
here.
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We Want to Hear From You!
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Tell us your sustainability story! Have you recently made energy efficiency upgrades to your home, incorporated a new zero waste habit into your life, or found an alternate mode of transport that you love?
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Want to stay updated on more Sustainability news and local events?
Follow us on
Facebook
!
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Subscribe to this newsletter
here
.
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Read previous newsletters
here.
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sustainability@mountainview.gov
www.mountainview.gov/sustainability
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