The City Council will hold a Study Session to review options for addressing recent complaints about gas-powered leaf blowers. Staff will provide information to the Council on creating a trade-in or rebate program to phase out this equipment and/or creating a ban on their usage. Meeting details will be available here on Friday, November 27, and members of the public are welcome to provide comments virtually.

We have a few tips for celebrating Thanksgiving this year:

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!

Have you done something creative with sustainability that you would like to share? Have you started a garden or found new ways to reuse old objects? Have you tried a new plant-based recipe or started biking instead of driving? Share these stories with us to be featured as a Sustainability Champion! Email sustainability@mountainview.gov with a picture of yourself and your story. We look forward to hearing from you!

On November 17, Mountain View’s second team finished the Cool Block program. As a group, they reduced their average carbon footprint by 64 percent! The team had a few reflections to share: 

“Everyone agreed we learned a tremendous amount, both through researching and creating presentations for the topics they hosted and from their fellow team members that brought their passion and unique viewpoint to the subject matter. We agreed that we accomplished a lot due to the accountability to the team. Many had wanted to prepare for emergencies for years and had just now actually done something about it. 

What really stood out though was the level of trust, friendship, and camaraderie we had created as a team. All of this was done remotely. The Cool Block program was a much richer, deeper experience than any of us anticipated. Something we are grateful for, especially during these difficult times.”

Congratulations again to the Bush/Mercy 500 Block team! Learn more about Cool Block here.

Acterra's prestigious, long-running Business Environmental Awards program seeks applications for the Spare the Air Leadership Award (sponsored by the Bay Area Air District). To be recognized in the 2021 cycle for their achievements in pollution reduction, greenhouse gas reduction, or innovations improving air quality, Bay Area private or public business entities must apply by December 15, 2020. More information can be found here.

Calling all high school and college students – Education Fund applications are open! The Silicon Valley Clean Energy "Education Fund" provides support and up to $10,000 in funding to high school and community college student-led projects that address our community’s goal to fight climate change by reducing the use of fossil fuels.

If your school club, organization, class, or team is working on a project related to climate awareness and reducing local carbon emissions, or if you want to start a new project focused on climate change, you can apply for the Education Fund. Applications are due by Sunday, December 6, at 11:59pm. Learn more and apply 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 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.

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.

Did you know that food is one of the largest contributors to the average Bay Area resident’s carbon footprint? Acterra, a local environmental non-profit, has launched its Healthy Plate, Healthy Planet program to help people reduce food waste and eat more plant-based meals. Learn about their online community, plant-forward challenge, upcoming events, and more here.

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.

Join hundreds of water leaders and decision makers from across the water management spectrum representing state and local governments, agencies, institutional users, engineering firms, and service providers. This event, hosted by Sustainable Silicon Valley, features a diversity of stories, experiences, insights, and visions to build a more resilient, equitable, and prosperous Bay Area. This is a two-day event. Register here.

CalEPA Secretary Jared Blumenfeld will explore how CalEPA is working to rebuild and refashion our communities, institutions, and infrastructure going forward to build a greener, healthier, more prosperous, and equitable California. This talk will highlight efforts underway to recover from COVID-19 in a way that creates jobs while delivering climate, health, and equity benefits for all Californians on our path to a carbon neutral future. Register here.

This workshop will discuss the wide variety of vehicles on the market today and their respective ranges. Other topics of discussion include home and public charging, available rebates and incentives, special programs for income-qualified drivers, buying and leasing opportunities, and tips for finding the right plug-in car for your lifestyle. Register here.

Learn all about the BayREN Home+ Program, which offers cash rebates to help make your home more comfortable, healthy, and efficient. Homeowners and renters in all nine Bay Area counties are eligible for Home+ rebates. Join the County of Santa Clara and City of Sunnyvale for this free informational workshop. Register here.

Regenerative agriculture absorbs carbon from the atmosphere and puts it back in the ground where it belongs. This was the natural balance of the ecosystem before conventional agriculture distorted it with unsustainable industrialized practices. So how do we do it? Join this webinar for a robust conversation from a panel of youth leaders. Register here.

Is your garden ready for the rain? Learn the methods for harvesting rainwater in your garden and using native plants to soak up the rain. Discover techniques for implementing rain gardens, rain barrels, and cisterns to collect winter rains. Register here.

Margaret Capetz, a senior at Los Altos High School and a member of the school's Green Team, recently published a plant-based cookbook. You can flip through it (digitally) here.

This list from Intersectional Environmentalist and this “80+ Zero Waste Gifts” article are two good places to start. You can also search The Good Trade for ethical and sustainable brands that make nearly everything.

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