Join the County of Santa Clara and City of Mountain View for this free online workshop. You can RSVP here.

If you are unable to attend this workshop, call a Home Energy Advisor at (866) 878-6008 or visit BayREN Home+ to learn more about the program and get started on your home improvement journey.

We are forming a volunteer group to build community while supporting the City’s sustainability programs. This group will assist the sustainability team by (1) disseminating information, (2) planning and hosting events, and (3) providing input on various sustainability topics.

There is no minimum time requirement, so even if you have just a few minutes a month we’d welcome your involvement and are happy to provide this way for you to meet other passionate community members. If you are interested, please fill out this short form. You will be contacted in the future for volunteer opportunities that best align with your interests and skills.

Recently, the City unveiled 9 new electric vehicle (EV) chargers at the Community Center. Watch this short video of Mayor Abe-Koga unveiling the chargers! These chargers are part of the 43 new EV chargers planned for installation at 3 City locations. By early 2021, we aim to install 24 new chargers at the 850 California St. parking structure (in addition to the 10 existing chargers), and 10 new chargers at the 135 Bryant St. garage.

To protect the health and safety of our communities and workers, the Governor is also asking the Legislature to end the issuance of new hydraulic fracturing permits by 2024. You can read the full statement here.

We’re excited to have launched an Instagram account to provide another way for you to track our progress. Follow us @mvsustainability to stay up-to-date on the latest Sustainability news and more!

Running from Saturday, September 26 to Sunday, October 4, National Drive Electric Week is a celebration to raise awareness of the many benefits of all-electric and plug-in hybrid cars, trucks, motorcycles, and more. Visit the website here to find a wide variety of online events.

This workshop will discuss the wide variety of vehicles on the market today and their respective ranges. Other topics include home and public charging, rebates and incentives, special programs for income qualified drivers, and buying versus leasing. Register here.

Is buying or leasing a new car on your horizon? Silicon Valley Clean Energy (SVCE) has launched the EV Assistant to help you browse and compare over 40 EVs and plug-in hybrids. The EV Assistant allows you to compare available rebates, evaluate savings, and browse by car type, range, cost, and more.

Try out the EV Assistant here, and learn more about the benefits of driving electric here.

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 from your home and community!

An additional $1,500 rebate is available for qualifying service panel upgrades and income-qualified customers. Visit SVCE's website here to reserve your rebate.

Are you thinking about going solar at home or installing battery storage, but don’t know where to start? Bay Area residents have access to a limited-time offer from SunShares to get help!

To make it easier and more affordable for Bay Area residents to build sustainable and resilient communities, SunShares offers discounts on solar systems and battery storage, plus free educational workshops. You can sign up for more information on SunShares here.

Register by November 30 to receive a FREE, no-obligation solar proposal outlining what solar and/or storage, as well as financing options, might look like for you.

Important! We are approaching the final year to take advantage of the Federal Tax Credit for solar before it expires at the end of 2021 -- don't miss this opportunity!

In August, City Wildlife Biologist Phillip Higgins invited the community to get a closer look at native wildlife and rehabilitation efforts at Shoreline at Mountain View. Shoreline has majestic natural views, so we invite you to take a break to enjoy them from a safe social distance and to learn a little more about what’s out there! Watch the video here.

Eight winners will be selected from each competition! They will receive hundreds of dollars in prizes, as well as recognition from the CEO of Silicon Valley Clean Energy. For more information, visit the challenge website here. The deadline to apply is Sunday, November 15, at 11:59pm.

Attention Bay Area residents! The Air District’s Clean Cars for All Program has expanded to all Bay Area zip codes.

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 cleancars@gridalternatives.org.

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.

Composting your food scraps and food-soiled paper reduces landfill greenhouse gas emissions, which are the third largest source of human-caused methane gas emissions. It also gives these valuable resources a second life as compost for landscape growers. The City of Mountain View is implementing a citywide food scraps collection program to pursue these benefits and to meet the City's Zero Waste goal of diverting 90% of waste from the landfill.

In coordination with a new State law (SB 1383), food scraps collection in Mountain View will be expanded to include all homes (both single-family and multi-family) and businesses by 2022. Residents who already have compost carts at their homes should begin, or continue, to separate all food and food-soiled paper out of the trash and place it in the compost cart along with any yard trimmings. City staff is currently working to add new multi-family complexes to the program to bring the program citywide in preparation for SB 1383. Learn more about how to compost your food scraps here.

Check out this guide from Sunnyvale Environmental Services for reducing waste in your kitchen! Try to use up what you already have before buying any new reusable items.

Learn the beginning steps to converting your lawn into a water-wise landscape. This class will teach how to develop a landscape design, steps to remove your current lawn, and go over some popular native low-water plants to include in your garden. Register here.

Not sure what to do with all of your food scraps? Want to boost your home gardening? UCCE is hosting FREE virtual community composting workshops. Register here.

Join Acterra for this Silicon Valley Green Team Network Forum to learn about how to incorporate equity, diversity, and inclusion in green teams. After the keynote speakers present, guests will participate in a breakout session where groups will discuss and creatively think of ways they can expand inclusion into their green teams and workplace. Read more about the speakers and register for the event here.

Learn how collaboration among elected officials, planners, arborists, and landscape architects can “save the trees” and better integrate nature into development projects. Register here.

Jack Norris, RD will present the latest nutrition recommendations for how to stay healthy and satiated as a vegan. The talk will also review the rates of chronic disease for vegans and vegetarians. Register here.

This presentation will cover all the basics of EV ownership, including the benefits of EVs, available government rebates, battery range and charging basics, buying versus leasing, current makes and models, and what’s in store for the future. Local EV experts will provide real-time answers to attendees’ questions. Register here.

This PG&E Energy Center webinar will discuss how good design decisions, careful architectural and construction detailing, and electrification of appliances can create attractive, comfortable, durable buildings. Learn how all-electric climate smart homes save energy, safeguard occupant health and comfort, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions – without increasing costs. Register here.

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?

Send a photo and a short blurb to sustainability@mountainview.gov and we may feature it in an upcoming newsletter!

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