Environment & Climate Action Resources

Things You Can do to Have an Impact 

Learn about the Sources of Global Warming and Climate Change

• Many great books, podcasts and documentaries are available, but one set of short and engaging videos that come from a widely respected organization named Drawdown can be found here:  https://drawdown.org/climate-solutions-101

• Talk with your family and friends about what you learned

Vote for and Support Elected Officials and Policies that will Prioritize the Environment and Climate

Contact your local, state and federal officials to tell them to prioritize the environment and climate and to support the policies that you favor.

• One very simple and educational way to do this is to download the ClimateActionNow App on your smartphone at https://climateactionnow.com/.  Once you set-up your personal profile on this app, it dramatically simplifies the process of emailing or calling elected officials and other decision-makers on topics you care about.

• Alternatively, you can see who your federal and local representatives are by going here:  https://www.usa.gov/elected-officials and see who your CA state reps are by going here:  https://findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov/

• Learn how representatives vote on environmental topics by going here:  https://scorecard.lcv.org/

Consider meeting with your local school board to understand their plans for putting solar panels on the school roof and electrifying the school buses if these things have not already happened.

Your Electricity

Fortunately, living in the Peninsula means that you likely already use 100% clean electricity.  Most all PG&E customers on the Peninsula receive electricity that is generated from Peninsula Clean Energy or Silicon Valley Clean Energy.  So, if you get your electricity from either of these sources, or from Palo Alto Utility, your electricity is 100% carbon-free. This means that whenever you replace a gas-powered appliance with an electric one, you will reduce your carbon emissions.

Transportation

• Strive to walk, bike, carpool or take public transportation when possible rather than drive
• Use low emissions vehicles whenever possible
• Take advantage of the existing tax rebates for newly purchased electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles and the expanded tax credits for new AND used electric vehicles that will become available in January 2023.  
• Assuming the supply chain issues facing the electric vehicle manufacturers improves, electric vehicle prices are supposed to drop significantly in 2023 and 2024.

Your Home 

There are significant subsidies and other incentives currently available to electrify your home or install rooftop solar.  And many of these incentives are expected to increase significantly in 2023 with the new federal Inflation Reduction Act.  So consider moving away from your CO2 and methane polluting natural gas appliances to electric appliances (e.g., heat-pump heating/air-conditioning units, heat-pump water heaters, and induction cooktops) or solar.  And if you live in an apartment, talk to your landlord about these incentives too.  To learn about some of these incentives, look at your the website of your utility provider along with these resources:

https://www.rewiringamerica.org/app/ira-calculator

https://www.smclimateaction.org/savings

https://www.bayren.org/rebates-financing

If you have a yard or garden, use drought-resistant native plants and trees.  Learn about rain barrel and greywater systems that reuse rain water or water from bathroom sinks, tubs, showers and washing machines for landscaping irrigation.

If you have already made the switch to any of these electric appliances, to rooftop solar, to greywater systems, or to other conservation practices and would be willing to answer questions about these appliances from CBJ congregants who are interested in pursuing these renovations, please let Brett Ehrlich know.  His email is brett_ehrlich@yahoo.com. 

PG&E, Peninsula Clean Energy, Silicon Valley Clean Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency’s websites provide great resources on how to increase efficiency in your homes with suggestions that cover topics such as installing LED light bulbs, improved insulation, using Energy Star efficient appliances, using a programmable thermostat, etc.  Another source that can help you complete a free energy audit of your home based on your PG&E billing patterns can be found at:  https://corp.hea.com/

Food & Lifestyle

• Ditch the plastic.  Say NO to single use bottles and packaging.  Bring reusable bags to the grocery store.  Carry a reusable water bottle.

• Buy foods that are grown from farmers and ranchers that use sustainable practices

• Buy local and organic when possible

• Consider making plant-based foods a larger portion of your diet

• Reduce food waste and compost food and other organic waste

Business & Investments

• Consider investing with the climate and environment in mind.  One helpful resource for evaluating mutual funds and Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) is:   https://fossilfreefunds.org/

• Encourage your employer to set a net-zero emissions goal and make sure they are making progress on that plan.