The City of Alameda is recruiting a CivicSpark Climate Action and Adaptation Fellow for the 2023-2024 service year. The Fellow will support Alameda’s goals of decarbonizing the transportation and building sectors, sequestering carbon through enhancing the urban forest and adapting to sea level rise and other climate driven hazards. Fellows gain exceptional career experience and training to become future leaders in response to emerging environmental and social equity challenges. Visit the City of Alameda’s project description and apply today! Priority deadline is May 12th. If interested in learning more, register to attend an upcoming informational webinar.

Interested in hosting a CivicSpark Fellow in your home? AmeriCorps has recently partnered with SilverNest, a roommate-matching and home sharing platform, in an effort to give AmeriCorps members a new option for finding affordable rental housing as well as provide community members a structured way to rent a room to a member. https://civicspark.civicwell.org/fellow/

Homeowners can now save $1,000 per heat pump HVAC unit with TECH Clean California.

Get an additional $2,000 in tax credits for heat pumps and up to $1,200 for weatherization installs through the federal Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) incentives.

AMP customers are also eligible for an additional $1,500 rebate for a heat pump HVAC unit and a heat pump water heater! With so many available incentives, make the switch now before the hot summer hits.

Did you know?

Heat pumps can both cool and heat your home. They are also excellent air purifiers. Heat pumps use less energy than traditional furnaces and run on AMP's 100% clean electricity. Learn more about heat pump HVAC systems.

Next steps

TECH Clean California incentives are only available to contractors enrolled in TECH Clean California.

Find a list of available rebates and contractors at switchison.org. 

Stay tuned

Multifamily incentives will be available by early June and will include up to $2,000 for heat pump HVAC systems per unit and $2,100 for heat pump water heaters. Single family incentives for heat pump water heaters will launch later this year starting at $3,100 per unit. 

AC Transit is reviewing and updating where, when, and how buses move throughout our service area. They are launching a top-to-bottom analysis of the system because travel patterns have changed in the wake of the pandemic and AC Transit is facing significant budget challenges. As a result, AC Transit will gather data and community input in the coming months to plan a new bus service network with the goal of better serving riders. The survey will help them understand what’s important to you. Visit the project website for more information and to take the survey: actransit.org/realign

Building healthy soil with compost is a wonderful way to set up your garden for success and have a meaningful impact for our planet. 

Applying 1-2 inches of compost to your soil this Spring will help your soil retain moisture, improve its structure, and help your plants access nutrients. Spreading compost maintains the health of your trees, edibles, and native plants. Compost also helps healthy gardens sequester carbon in your soil and plants, reducing your climate impact.

You can also help make compost for gardeners and farmers by sorting your food scraps, yard and plant trimmings, and food-soiled paper into the green bin. Remember to keep plastics, glass, and metals out of the green bin to help keep compost clean!

Continue the Earth Month celebration by visiting StopWaste’s Gardening Resources where you can:

• Get free compost from the Alameda Compost Hub
• Attend a garden workshop or event
• Start a home composting system to compliment your garden