| Meet Greg (and Ember!), hosts of the NEW Green@Home Mini-Tour. We're excited to announce that Greg, one of our Green@Home Tour Hosts, is now leading monthly mini-tours of his home and ADU upgrades! These are intimate, small-group gatherings where you can see firsthand the upgrades Greg has made, and get your electrification questions answered. → Watch this 30-second video to learn more.
→ Register for the next tour on July 10 - spots are limited!
We recently caught up with Greg at his Palo Alto home as he previewed some of the features he’ll be showcasing at the upcoming Green@Home Mini-Tour. Not to brag (okay, maybe just a little bit...), but his electric bill is $10 a month!
Greg not only walked us through the energy-efficient upgrades he’s made to his primary home (if you go, see if you can spot the hidden EV charger in the driveway!), he also shared the process of building a fully electric, two-bedroom ADU on his property. |
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On this preview tour, he showed us how quiet his heat pump water heater and HVAC system run (we were able to film right alongside them!) and explained the simple tweaks he made during installation that reduced noise even further. He walked us through his low-maintenance mulched lawn and showed us how the water from his washing machine irrigates his trees!
We learned about EV chargers, electrical panels (no upgrades needed!), and sprinkler systems that check the weather before they run. We looked at how motion-sensor bulbs can be energy-efficient and felt how energy recovery ventilators can keep you cool and breathing fresh air, even on a hot day.
This tour truly has everything. Greg has tips for homeowners and renters alike, from how to optimize insulation to how to keep critters from chewing on your EV wires. We left the tour brimming with ideas to implement in our own homes (and apartments!), and we know you will too. Join us! Date: July 10, Aug. 14, Sept. 11
Location: Palo Alto
Register soon - spots fill up quickly! |
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We're almost at our match goal! Help us get there.
Thanks to your generosity, we are just 10% away from meeting our spring matching challenge.
There are just FOUR DAYS LEFT to help us unlock the $10,000 full match!
Every dollar you give today will be doubled to support critical,
community-based climate solutions.
This matching offer ends June 30. Double your impact today. |
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| Woodside Electric Garden Voucher Program |
“Thank you for this voucher. It completes a set including a string trimmer, blower, pole saw, and chainsaw - ALL electric!” Go Green with the Woodside Electric Garden Voucher Program! Eligible Woodside residents, businesses, and gardening professionals can now take advantage of vouchers for eco-friendly electric garden tools!
Woodside residents can receive up to $250 to cover the purchase of electric gardening equipment. Non-gardening businesses are eligible for a $250 rebate for an electric leaf blower. Professional gardeners, landscapers, and property owners with parcels of 5 acres or more can get up to $1,000 to purchase electric gardening tools.
Vouchers cover up to 100% of the purchase price, with a cap per address/business per year.
Remember, funds are limited and awarded on a first-come, first-served basis! Check eligibility & apply today! |
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Induction Cooktop Loan Program |
Let's get cooking! With our Induction Cooktop Loan Program, we're offering you the opportunity to borrow an induction cooking kit for 14 days - completely free of charge. Each Induction Lending Kit includes: - A portable induction cooktop and a compatible pan
- Operating instructions
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Delicious recipes
- A convenient carrying bag
Discover the benefits of induction cooking: precise temperature control, faster heating, easy cleanup, and improved safety for homes with kids or pets. Plus, it’s an energy-efficient and eco-friendly alternative to gas and electric stovetops. Learn more and apply today!
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"The tour was great. Each home was clearly marked and the hosts were wonderful and knowledgeable. My husband and I were able to visit 4 homes, and learned a LOT. Thank you so much!"
On June 7, over 200 participants toured 18 homes across Oakland, Berkeley, Alameda, Piedmont, Albany, El Cerrito, Martinez and Benicia.
With the support of our incredible hosts, attendees explored electrification projects from heat pump HVAC systems to induction stoves and native gardens. Guests walked away with practical knowledge about appliances, contractors, permits, and more, empowering them to take the next step toward a cleaner, all-electric future.
Missed this one? We’ve got more coming soon! A Marin tour is on the horizon for September, plus our new Palo Alto Mini-Tour!
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Electrify Your Life: Soaking Up Solar Benefits |
On Monday, June 23, Acterra staff members Genevieve Lucas-Conwell and Dennis Murphy joined Acterra Green@Home Ambassador Indra Ghosh for a talk on solar and battery projects, including Sunnyvale’s new all-electric LEED Platinum City Hall! Couldn't make it? We've got a recording on our YouTube channel.
This talk was part of the City of Sunnyvale Library’s Electrify Your Life series.
Special thanks to Sunnyvale Sustainability Librarian Jack Niggli! |
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Breaking News on AB 306
In an end-run maneuver, AB 306 (Schultz, Rivas) is now included in sections of the budget trailer bill AB 130 (Gabriel) and is being heard by both the Senate and Assembly Budget Committees, with voting imminent. This sprawling bill includes a number of good things, like a total of $1.85B for Bay Area public transit as well as AB 609 (Wicks) speeding up the infill multifamily housing development process. However, Acterra and coalition partners like NRDC and Menlo Spark are asking that the AB 306 sections (29-31 and 37-42) be stricken from the trailer bill and instead go through careful consideration within the standard committee process (up until this week, by the Senate Housing and Local Government Committees, specifically). If passed, AB 306 would bar any changes to California’s building codes until 2031, depriving local governments of the ability to pass pro-electrification policies or energy-efficient standards that exceed state requirements. AB 306 might even interfere with cities’ abilities to implement the already-approved 2025 energy code.
Speak up about this problematic bill by contacting your State legislators before it’s too late — especially if your Senator is on the Budget Committee (Bay Area members include Scott Wiener, Chair (D11); Christopher Cabaldon (D3); John Laird (D17); Jerry McNerney (D5); and Aisha Wahab (D10). Stay tuned for a fuller recap of State legislative highlights coming in our next edition of EcoHappenings. |
Endorsed Events Comment on the Climate Smart San José 2025 Update Deadline: June 30. Link.
Bay Area Youth Climate Summit (BAYCS) - Application to join closing soon! Deadline: July 2. Link. Rally for BART and Caltrain in San Mateo County
July 1, from 5:30 – 6:30 PM at Millbrae Station (100 Serre Avenue). Link. Workshop: Draft Strategies for Regional Climate Action - Bay Area Regional Climate Action Plan Public Workshop #3 July 22, from 6 – 7:30 PM. Link. |
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