|
Sustainable Santa Clara - October 2021 |
|
Mission Branch Library Gets a Sustainability Upgrade and LEED Certification
After nearly three years of improvements and ongoing collaboration with Silicon Valley Power, the Mission Branch Library is proud to report that it is now LEED Silver Certified through the U.S. Green Building Council. What does this achievement mean for Santa Clara? LEED certification means that a building is designed to be healthier for the people in it, for the surrounding community and for the environment. It also creates more productive spaces, reduces operating costs and helps meet City sustainability and climate action goals. Some of the measures taken that earned the Mission Branch Library LEED Silver certification include water and energy efficiency, lighting and ventilation, materials reuse, low emitting paints, flooring and sealants, and even water efficient landscaping. Stop by the Mission Branch Library for a good book and leave with a sense of pride in our community’s continued efforts to create a Sustainable Santa Clara.
|
|
 In honor of National Drive Electric Week (NDEW), Silicon Valley Power offered free EV charging from September 25 - October 3 at all public Santa Clara Facilities available on the ChargePoint network. National Drive Electric Week is a nationwide celebration to raise awareness of the many benefits of all-electric and plug-in hybrid cars, trucks, motorcycles, and more. The community celebrated NDEW by taking advantage of the free public chargers throughout the City and increased the number of charging sessions by 31 percent. Those charging sessions led to a 36 percent increase in gasoline savings totaling 882 gallons of gasoline avoided by driving electric! Silicon Valley Power provided a full line-up of events, webinars, and tools to help the community celebrate NDEW. Still need to find your ride? Visit Silicon Valley Power for upcoming EV incentives, webinars and events.
|
 The past year and a half have highlighted the importance of access to local, high quality electricity service as the pandemic led many people to work or attend school from home. Every October Public Power Week is celebrated across the nation to recognize over 2,000 community-owned, not-for-profit utilities, like Silicon Valley Power (SVP). Unlike cities that rely on large investor-owned utilities, Santa Clara benefits from a municipally-owned utility dedicated to the community. This local business model ensures that customers can count on responsiveness and investments back into community growth, and our not-for-profit status ensures affordable rates. Santa Clara residents pay 53% less than residents of surrounding cities served by investor-owned utilities.
Our team’s local expertise allows us to create programs and services tailored to the needs of Santa Clara’s residents. Learn more about how SVP invests in Santa Clara’s economy and a high quality of life through initiatives like electric vehicle charging stations, student scholarships and technical school grants, and a Tool Lending Library
|
|
 This year marks Silicon Valley Power’s (SVP) 125th anniversary. SVP has grown from 46 streetlights in 1896 to 8,122 today, and now serves more than 58,700 electric customers. SVP owns, operates and outsources more than 1,000 Megawatts (MW) of electric generating resources and delivers a peak load of approximately 600 MW.
Since 1965, SVP has diversified its portfolio of generation resources by fuel type and geographic location and is working on adding an additional 500 MW of clean energy to its portfolio in the next five years. As SVP moves toward carbon-free electricity in 2045, new generation investments are entirely in clean energy.
|
 The City recently completed the latest round of public outreach on the Climate Action Plan (CAP) Update. Engagement activities included various focus groups, a community feedback workshop and hosting an interactive draft of the proposed CAP Update for community members to comment on directly.
For more information on the CAP Update process or to see the latest information from the public outreach efforts visit Climate Action Plan Update | City of Santa Clara
|
|
October 21, 2021 will be the 7th annual Imagine A Day Without Water campaign. This campaign is intended to remind everyone of the essential value of water to our lives and communities. It highlights the need for strong infrastructure and a robust support network of utilities and cities essential to ensuring that we receive clean, reliable water every single day. What would your day be like if you could not turn on the tap and get clean drinking water, or if you flushed the toilet and wastewater did not go anywhere? What would happen to restaurants, hospitals, firefighters, farms, or the hundreds of industries that depend on water? In honor of ‘Imagine a Day Without Water’, take a moment to think about where your water comes from, how many people it takes to build, maintain and replace the systems that get it to you, and how it is safely delivered to and collected from homes, schools and workplaces every day. Visit SantaClaraCA.gov/SaveOurWater for more information on the drought and water conservation.
|
In March of 2021 the Santa Clara City Council directed staff to prepare an all-electric reach code with electric vehicle (EV) charging requirements. Reach codes are local building code amendments that go beyond the State of California’s requirements for energy efficiency and green building standards. The City Council will be considering the proposed Building Electrification and Electric Vehicle Reach Codes at the October 19, 2021 City Council meeting.
View the proposed reach code ordinance.
Information on City Council meetings and agendas may be found at Mayor and Council | City of Santa Clara (santaclaraca.gov)
|
|
On Halloween, candy is handed out to those with awesome costumes! Where there is Halloween candy there is Halloween candy packaging and wrappers. Often times these candy wrappers don’t make it safely to a trash can and end up in our streets as litter. This litter can then end up in storm drains that flow directly to the bay polluting waterways and harming wildlife. Now that’s really scary!
This Halloween, let’s remember to pick up after ourselves and keep our streets and environment clean.
Have a spooktacular Halloween!
|
Fall brings us incredible foliage, but when the leaves eventually fall, they can clog storm drains and increase the possibility of flooding if not managed and contained properly. You can help prevent this by not blowing or raking leaves into the street. If you are not backyard composting, leaves should be placed in your yard trimmings cart for weekly curbside collection. If needed, an additional yard trimmings container can be obtained free of charge by contacting Mission Trail Waste Systems at 408-727-5365.
It is also a good idea to keep an eye on your neighborhood storm drain. Clogged storm drains can cause street flooding when it rains. Help keep storm drains free of leaves and debris. If a storm drain is clogged with leaves and can be accessed safely, clear it with a broom or rake, or call the Department of Public Works at 408-615-3080 for assistance.
|
|
|
Silicon Valley Power offers a rebate up to $200 for replacement of an old electric clothes dryer with an efficient electric clothes dryer.
|
|
|
Electrify your commute or your weekend recreation by getting an electric bicycle and receive a rebate up to $300 from Silicon Valley Power. Income-qualified customers can receive an additional $200.
|
|
|
Santa Clara residents and businesses can combine both City and Valley Water rebates to receive up to $3 per square foot to convert approved high-water use landscape, such as lawns and pools, to low-water use landscape or to retrofit existing irrigation equipment with approved high-efficiency irrigation equipment.
|
|
|
Rain barrels allow you to collect free water to use for irrigation when you need it. By capturing and storing rainwater for future use, households can supplement their landscape irrigation systems to conserve water and save money. Get up to $100 reimbursement or credit for a qualifying Rain Barrell.
|
|
|
What can you do to be a conservation leader in your daily life?
Here are a few ideas to get started:
- Pick up a Litter Clean-up Kit by calling 408-615-3080
- Unplug appliances that are not in use.
- Plan your meals to ensure food doesn't go to waste.
|
|
|
|
|
