|
Sustainable Santa Clara Earth Month Edition - April 2022 |
|
|
This April marks the 52nd Annual Earth Day. With the international theme Investing in our Planet, there is no better time to discuss what investing in a sustainable environment and healthy future looks like to each of us. Investing time, funds or our voices are all key to building the momentum needed to create a sustainable future. It is also important to ensure that we are all held accountable and that we all are accounted for as we invest in solutions together.
The City of Santa Clara is committed to investing in solutions at the local level that play a role in the global dialog through outreach, programs and incentives that empower the community to contribute to sustainable solutions through individual choices. We are also folding sustainability into our operations, planning and projects through our 2022 Climate Action Plan update, renewable energy, organics/food waste composting, water conservation projects, customer rebates, student sustainability scholarships and so much more. Learn more at Sustainable Santa Clara.
|
|
Community gardens are a lot more than just rented beds for residents. Our Parks & Recreation Staff open the garden gates to the public every week for workshops, classes, guests and volunteers. The program is now accepting volunteers to help maintain the compost bins and demonstration garden beds and to support events and general maintenance.
You can also sign your student up for the Growing Gardeners Program where they can participate in garden-based science experiments, art projects, and engineering activities at Everett N. "Eddie" Souza Community Garden and Park (2380 Monroe Street). Participants will also play games and read stories that reinforce the concepts covered during each session. Living Classroom's mission is to make education come alive and to empower the next generation by growing environmental champions, inquisitive learners and healthy eaters who know where their food comes from. Registration is open for after-school programs in spring or week-long programs in summer.
|
This April 28, Arbor Day celebrates 150 years of highlighting the critical that role trees play in creating a healthy environment.
Urban trees are climate superheroes: improving air quality, reducing the effects of high heat events and saving energy and costs associated with heating and cooling buildings. They also reduce stress and noise pollution and improve neighborhoods.
Santa Clara has been designated a “Tree City USA” for commitments to our urban forest since 1987.
Our Department of Public Works manages over 11,000 City street trees and is looking for your help to expand the urban forest and beautify neighborhoods.
Request to have a City street tree planted in your front yard within the City easement or City park strip in front of your home for free!
|
|
At Silicon Valley Power (SVP), we are working to accelerate electric transportation initiatives to ensure Santa Clara is an EV Ready Community by the end of 2030. With equity and inclusion at the heart of our efforts, SVP continues to expand EV charging accessibility where we live, work, and play. As part of our commitment to an equitable sustainable future, we have installed EV chargers at 13 public locations near multi-family housing and community centers with 3 more locations planned for Spring 2022.
We also offer easy EV online tools to help you understand how much it costs to charge an EV, what models are available and what incentives you may qualify for. If you are ready to go electric, we also offer rebates to lower the cost of purchasing an electric car, e-bike, and charging equipment.
With the development of our comprehensive City Fleet Electrification plan, we are excited to begin the transition away from vehicles powered by fossil fuels. This allows us to reduce fleet emissions and operating costs while improving and greening our service to the community. To date, we have swapped out 11 vehicles for EVs with 28 more on the way. And to support our City Fleet Electrification Plan, SVP is also installing EV charging stations at City facilities to support workplace and fleet charging.
|
Investing in parks is important for the mental and physical health and wellbeing of our community. Investing in sustainable parks takes our overall wellbeing to next level. The City works to bring in funding opportunities that allow us to fold environmental sustainability into maintenance, operations and upgrades of our parks.
Our Parks & Recreation Department continues to improve green spaces by planting native pollinator gardens and expanding our urban forest with locally appropriate trees.
With an ongoing drought as part of the California reality, we have made long term water conservation shifts with low water vegetation, irrigation efficiency upgrades and use of recycled water for irrigation and restrooms where possible.
Additionally, parks have implemented electrification climate solutions like:
- Public electric vehicle chargers to support a transition to cleaner vehicles
- Solar panels that harness enough power to run their facilities
-
Transitioning to electric leaf blowers and other electric maintenance equipment
|
|
|
Each year on Earth Day (April 22) and Arbor Day (April 28), communities across the country demonstrate support for environmental protection and reflect on the important role that trees play in our world.
This year we are excited to celebrate Earth Day and Arbor Day virtually through a variety of activities and events that celebrate our planet throughout the month of April. Enjoy pre-recorded environmentally focused children’s book readings and learn ways to honor trees and our planet in your daily lives.
Remember, make everyday Earth Day!
|
|
Let's celebrate the Earth! We will sing, rhyme, move & read stories about our beautiful planet and sustainability.
Storytime is open to all ages and will be followed by a stay & play with sensory exploration stations. Bring a blanket, a snack and get ready to learn, move, and sing. Join us for Earth Day storytimes on Friday April 22 from 10:30-11:15 at three locations:
|
|
Come to any of the three library branches during the week of April 18-23 to pick up your "Groot Planter Kit." Each kit contains biodegradable materials including a pot, some seeds and a fun Groot template to inspire your little gardeners. Watch the seedlings sprout and then replant in the ground to enjoy beautiful spring blooms.
You and your children (7 and up) are invited to join us on April 19 at 4pm for a fun and interactive virtual STEAM Lab. Just review the materials list and have them ready before you join us in conducting Earth Day inspired activities!
This program is recommended for ages 7 and up, with parental supervision and assistance required at all times. For safety reasons, participants will not be able to join in with video or audio.
As a part of our City efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and support energy efficient technologies, Silicon Valley Power (SVP) upgraded Santa Clara Unified School District’s Adult Education cooking classroom with induction cooktops and is sponsoring a twelve-class induction cooking series.
The next induction cooking class is April 23 from 9am-1pm and will explore Southern Indian cuisine with a delicious vegetable biryani, a chicken appetizer and a tasty payasam for dessert.
Induction cooktops are faster and more efficient than cooking with gas or traditional electric stoves. They are also safer because there is no exposed flame and they only heat the cookware, not the surrounding area.
Silicon Valley Power customers can register using our discount code Induction to receive $50 off the regular cost of the class. The discount code is only valid for one class in this twelve-class series so that others may have an opportunity to test induction cooktops.
Garage sale shopping is a great way to practice sustainable living and find unique items while getting outside and building community connection.
Buying used items supports a reuse culture and extends a product's life, keeping things out of the landfill and reducing your carbon footprint.
Join us and your neighbors for Santa Clara's Spring Citywide Garage Sale on Saturday, April 9.
We have the tools to help you plan your garage sale route by finding the locations that most interest you. Check out details including the date, time, address and even the items for sale.
Just use the downloadable list available April 8 or check out our interactive map to plan your route for a fun day of treasure hunting while practicing sustainability.
Who knows what treasures await you!
|
Drop in to any of the library locations for a special Earth week magnetic poetry making craft for teens. Bring your creativity and we will provide the materials. Make your own magnetic poetry and add some literary fun to your fridge or inside your locker!
In partnership with Santa Clara University students with the College of Engineering, we have developed a virtual guided tour for Everett N “Eddie” Souza Park.
Using your smart phone, scan the QR code and let the app guide you to the end of the scavenger hunt where your virtual prize is waiting! By the end of the game your family will be able to identify the many ways we use sustainability practices when building Santa Clara parks.
The Watershed Watch Campaign invites Santa Clara County K-12 students to create, inform and inspire through their Earth Day Poster Challenge.
There will be cash prizes of $250 for first place winners, and $150 for second place winners in three age brackets: K-5th, 6th-8th and 9th-12th.
Poster themes are focused on responding to “Why are local waterways (creeks, rivers, lakes) important to you?” or “How can you prevent water pollution?” and will be judged by Santa Clara Valley Urban Runoff Pollution Prevention Program members on the criteria of originality, clarity and expression of theme.
Submit your entry by 5 p.m. on Earth Day, April 22, 2022.
Winners will be announced in May and posted publicly to promote storm water pollution prevention and local waterway awareness and stewardship.
Want to learn more about driving an EV? Attend a free Bay Area Ride & Drive EV Car Show, EV 101 basics webinar or EV Owner workshop!
In full electric mode, an EV produces zero tailpipe emissions, dramatically lowering smog and greenhouse gas emissions.
Cleaner cars mean cleaner air and better health. Silicon Valley Power (SVP) provides 100% carbon-free power to all our residents, so when you charge your EV at home, your EV is powered by carbon-free energy.
In Santa Clara, EV operation is five times cheaper than gasoline and diesel-powered cars. Santa Clara residents who switch to EVs could save $2,335 a year.
Use SVP’s free EV calculators to find out how much money you could save if you made the switch to an EV today!
|
|
Earth Month Conservation Tips |
|
Each year Californians send over 11 billion pounds of food to landfills. Before letting those forgotten strawberries rot in the back of your fridge, consider all the work, water, transportation and carbon it takes to grow or raise the food we eat.
Minimizing food waste is the most important thing you can do to reduce the wasted lifecycle costs of food.
Using a Guest-Imator tool allows you to adjust your ingredients and portions accordingly.
If you have leftovers, repurpose them into new meals such as soups, salads, frittatas or stir fries. See more ideas on freestyle cooking.
For food that must be thrown away, our City garbage service now utilizes Mixed Waste Processing services that create compost materials from your organic waste.
|
The best way to reduce waste going to landfills is to not use unnecessary items in the first place. A great way to start is by taking a look at the single-use products we use on a daily basis either at home, at work, at school or when we shop.
Kicking the single-use habit can start with simple actions. An easy way to start is to:
- Carry a re-usable bag just in case, or keep some in the trunk of your car for shopping
- Have a re-usable travel cup or mug with you to model the re-use lifestyle when going out for coffee or a cool drink
- Use a re-usable water bottle
- Say "no thank you" to unnecessary single-use plastics when dining or shopping
|
|
What better way to celebrate Earth Day than to get out in nature? Santa Clara has some wonderful parks and trails to get you started if you want to stay close by, and the Bay Area boasts a wide variety of walking and biking trails.
There is also growing evidence that spending time in nature or green spaces has incredible positive impacts on physical and mental health, like improving mood and reducing anxiety, lowering blood pressure, reducing stress and inflammation and more.
So go for a stroll, take a hike, hop on a local bike path or have a picnic with friends or family at your local park and enjoy the free benefits that trees, nature and green space have to offer.
If you are new to the great outdoors and want to plan an adventure, but don't have all the gear you need, the Library has you covered with a free gear lending program!
All you need is a library card to outfit yourself with a backpack, a camera and or a Fitbit... and off you go!
|
Fuss-free California Natives are different (and easier!) from most plants: no need for amendments, fertilizers or clearing rocks from deeply dug holes. Plant with the root ball an inch or two above grade, build a soil berm to keep water where you want it, apply mulch and water weekly, just to establish. Give a dose of fish or seaweed emulsion a few times a year if plants seem stressed.
Bright and cheerful native Monkeyflowers (Diplacus spp.) flourish in many environments and bloom sporadically throughout the year, making them a great food source for hummingbirds and other pollinators.
A must-have for habitat corridors to restore native species, choose a location for these evergreens with protection from strong afternoon summer sun to avoid plants going dormant in summer (a defense measure they bounce back from when the heat lets up). Pinch back to where new growth starts to keep small or let the natural form cascade up to five feet. Once established, water just twice a month in the summer!
|
|
|
Considering a new landscape? Use the $3 per square foot lawn replacement rebate to tackle your biggest water waster by converting lawn to drought tolerant landscapes! Be sure to visit the City’s Landscaping & Garden page for plant palettes, resources and rebate information.
|
|
|
We are exited to announce a new instant rebate of up to 25% off the purchase of electric yard care tools like leaf blowers, lawnmowers, trimmers and chain saws. Check out SVP's new online Marketplace where you can shop for yard tools and various energy saving devices! Higher incentives available for income qualified customers.
|
|
Don't know what to do with your old light bulbs, cleaners, batteries, medications or e-waste? Safely dispose of those and many more acceptable household hazardous waste (HHW) items cluttering your home at the free HHW drop-off event on April 30. Residents must register by calling the County Household Hazardous Waste Program at 408-299-7300 or by visiting hhw.org.
|
|
|
What do you do in your daily life to be a conservation leader?
Here are some ideas:
- Remember to come pick up free compost to get your spring garden growing right during our free Compost Giveaway on April 2.
- Don't forget, cardboard is recyclable. Oversized cardboard can be cut down, bundled and set out next to your cart.
-
Up your drought resiliency game! Visit Water Conservation for tips and resources.
- Try getting out of your car and walking, biking or using public transportation for even one trip per week.
- Check out the City's April Calendar for more ways to get involved.
|
|
|
|
|
