Riechel Reports - San Bruno CA Events

UPDATE - Sustainable San Mateo County

Article Source: Sustainable San Mateo County - CA

What's New at SSMC

It’s official! This summer was the hottest ever on record in the North American hemisphere. Climate change is making destructive hurricanes more common in the U.S., and rising temperatures are raising the risk of wildfires in California. Ocean temperatures off South Florida’s coast reached hot-tub levels this summer, endangering marine life and ocean ecosystems.

But there’s good news, too. Read on to learn more about how to take advantage of rebates and tax credits to power your home with clean energy. This newsletter is also packed with opportunities to make your life more sustainable and news about upcoming events you won’t want to miss.

Take Advantage of Clean Energy Savings

Climate news isn’t all gloom and doom. A clean energy future is coming faster than you think, as our country pivots away from fossil fuels and toward wind, solar and other renewable energy sources. The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) is already making an impact with surprising growth in domestic green manufacturing. It has created nearly 30,000 new manufacturing jobs and will deliver $4.5 billion in expected customer savings. It provides the average household up to $10,600 to reduce emissions and lower energy costs.

Check out Rewiring America’s free calculator to find out how much you can save from the IRA. And if you’re thinking about buying an electric vehicle or replacing your gas water heater or furnace, you can save a bundle by taking advantage of rebates offered by Peninsula Clean Energy and BayREN. A bonus is that an electric heat pump space heater also provides air conditioning.

SSMC News

There are only a few spots left for our program on Tuesday, October 3, “The Climate Fight of Their Lives,” which will feature one of the lead attorneys and two of the 16 young plaintiffs who won a recent landmark case against the State of Montana, when a judge ruled that the state had violated their constitutional rights to a clean and healthful environment. Tickets are free, but preregistration is required at https://bit.ly/YouthClimateFight. You can sign up to be on the waiting list when tickets are gone.

You can register now to attend our 27^thAnnual Indicators Report, which will be unveiled on Thursday, October 26. This in-depth report will focus on the challenges facing children, youth and families in San Mateo County, including COVID, the economy and the lack of affordable housing. County Superintendent of Schools Nancy Magee and County Manager Mike Callagy are among the speakers who will discuss the current situation and make recommendations for improvements. It will take place from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. in the CZI Community Space and will include a light breakfast. Admission is free, but you must preregister here. Space is limited.

Our Indicators Report program manager, Simona Vallone, recently completed research for a major study by Stanford University about how meat and dairy industry lobbying has stifled competition form alternative meat products with smaller climate and environmental impact. Read about the study here.

Sustainability Progress

Apple has announced it will support California's Right to Repair Bill. If the bill passes, it will force electronics and appliance manufacturers to offer the public parts, repair tools and documentation for up to seven years after a product has been discontinued. That means you’ll save money by keeping your devices running longer.

Similar bills have passed legislatures in New York, Colorado and Minnesota, and right-to-repair legislation has been introduced in 30 other states this year.

Jan Dell, who manages a small nonprofit in Orange County called The Last Beach Cleanup, has succeeded in getting California to approve a truth-in-labeling law. The law, which will take effect in the fall of 2023, will force Coca-Cola, Clorox and other companies to replace the “chasing arrows” recycling symbol on products that are not widely recycled in California.

More than a third of the world's plastic is used for packaging.

In San Mateo County and many other parts of the U.S., only plastic items stamped with a 1 or a 2 have a good chance of being recycled. Dell hopes this law will inspire companies to switch to more sustainable materials.

Opportunities

SSMC is hiring! We’re seeking an Executive Director with a passion for sustainability and management experience. Details are here. We’re also looking for volunteers to help with communications, event planning and website updates. Interested? Email info@sustainablesanmateo.org.

Applications are due September 15 for the Youth Climate Ambassadors leadership program for high school students offered by San Mateo County’s Office of Sustainability. This seven-month helps them dive into social and environmental issues contributing to the global climate crisis. Learn about the program and apply here.

Caltrain is offering promotional fares through January 2024. They include parking prices reduced by 50 percent, a $1 Youth Pass, a Three-Day Pass aimed at hybrid commuters that offers three consecutive days of unlimited rides, a Family Day Pass and a Group Day Pass. Click here to learn more. Caltrain also offers free passes to organizations serving low-income or marginalized communities through its Pass Forward program.

Rising Sun’s Opportunity Build program trains people for positions in the construction trades, including installation of clean energy equipment, and graduates receive a full year of employment and job retention support. There’s also an all-women cohort. More info is here.

The Nueva Social Impact Filmmaking Club proudly presents their first documentary, “Unveiling the City,” which examines the gradual disappearance of San Francisco’s fog, due to climate change. You can view it here.

The San Mateo County Office of Education is looking for a Director of Sustainable Construction and Facilities to support school communities in integrating environmental sustainability and climate-ready efforts. The deadline for applications is September 8. Details are here.

Upcoming Events

Sat. Sept. 9, 10 a.m. to noon. “E-Bikes and EVs in the Park.” Acterra’s Karl Knapp GoEV Program will offer free e-bike test rides for registrants and will have several popular EV models on display. Register here.

Sun. Sept. 10, 1 to 2:30 p.m. Eco-Friendly Weed Management Workshop and Webinar. Presented by FlowsToBay.org and San Mateo Arboretum Society. Free. Register here.

Thurs. Sept. 14, 7 to 8:30 p.m. “Kiss the Ground” screening and program about sustainable land use. Home gardeners will learn how to save water and foster photosynthesis that improves their soil and draws down atmospheric carbon. Elm Room, Burlingame Community Center, 850 Burlingame Ave., Burlingame. Presented by the Citizens Environmental Council (CEC) and cosponsored by Burlingame Parks and Recreation Department. A 45-minute version of the film will be followed by a discussion led by Doug Millar of the San Mateo Resource Conservation District. Admission is free, pre-registration is required at https://RegenAgriculture.eventbrite.com.

Mon. Sept. 18, 6:30 to 8 p.m. Home Electrification Workshop offered by 350 Silicon Valley. Learn about the benefits and incentives of electrification. Light appetizers and refreshments. Senior Coastsiders Center, 925 Main St., Half Moon Bay. Free. Register here.

Sat. Sept. 23, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Free tour of Caltrain’s new electric trains. San Francisco station, 700 4^th St., San Francisco. Food trucks, games, activity booths and more. Free, but space is limited. Reserve a spot here.

Tues. Oct. 3, 6:30 p.m. “Electrify Your Home and Save Money.” Presented by Fossil Free Mid-Peninsula, 350 Silicon Valley and Peninsula Clean Energy. Learn about the benefits of electrifying your home and financial incentives. Free. Register here.

Tues. Oct. 3, 7 to 8:30 p.m. “The Climate Fight of Their Lives.” Free program featuring one of the lead attorneys and two of the 16 young plaintiffs who recently won a groundbreaking climate change lawsuit against the State of Montana for not protecting their rights to a clean and healthful environment. Burlingame Community Center, 850 Burlingame Ave., Burlingame. Presented by Sustainable San Mateo County and sponsored by the Burlingame Parks and Recreation Department. Free, but pre-registration is required at https://bit.ly/YouthClimateFight. Cosponsors are 350 Silicon Valley, Acterra, Citizens' Climate Lobby, Citizens Environmental Council, Climate Reality Bay Area’s San Mateo County Policy Action Squad, Peninsula Clean Energy and Thrive Alliance.

Wed. Oct. 11, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. 2^nd Annual Climate Summit, “Adaptation and Equity: Building Power for Community Resilience.” Presented by Thrive Alliance. South San Francisco Conference Center. Free. To register and learn more, click here.

Sat. Oct. 14, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 2^nd Annual Electric Home Tour. Save the date! Visit 20 to 30 homes in San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties that have embraced electrification. Want to add your home to the tour? Contact InfoElectricHomeTour@gmail.com.

Thurs. October 26, 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Sustainable San Mateo County’s 27^thAnnual Indicators Report on “The Well-Being of Children, Youth and Families.” Free in-person event in Redwood City. Speakers include County Superintendent Nancy Magee and County Manager Mike Callagy discussing the challenges facing children, youth and families in recent years and recommendations to improvements. Admission is free, but registration is required here by October 20.

Don’t just worry about climate change. Join us and do something about it!

Terry Nagel

Interim Executive Director

sustainablesanmateo.org

Visit our Website

SSMC is a 501(c)3 organization

EIN No. 48-1265207

Make a Tax-Deductible Donation