Learn about the new Statewide Program for improving existing homes.

Energy Upgrade California

• Enjoy a healthier, more comfortable home.
  
• Save energy.
• Create jobs. 
• Protect the environment.
• Substantial Rebates
• Easy match with approved contractors
• One-stop web-site

Wednesday, January 26, 2011
7-8 PM
Sunnyvale Council Chambers, City Hall
456 West Olive Avenue
Sunnyvale, California
FREE

Listen to a brief KQED radio clip about Energy Upgrade California.

• Initiating a County-Wide Sustainability Plan, Demetra McBride, Manager, Office of Sustainability, Santa Clara County
• Green Buildings for Cool Cities: The Energy Upgrade Imperative, Margie Suozzo, Sierra Club Loma Prieta Chapter 
• The Santa Clara County Energy Upgrade Program, Sharlene Carlson, Energy Upgrade Santa Clara
  
  This Green Buildings for Cool Cities event is hosted by the City of Sunnyvale and co-sponsored by the Cupertino and Sunnyvale Cool Cities Teams, the Sierra Club, and Acterra's Green @ Home Program, with partial funding from the Silicon Valley Community Foundation. 
  
  
  

Back on January 8th, MVCSP and City officials and staff welcomed a small group of Santa Clara residents to downtown Mountain View to learn about how MVCSP advocates for sustainable land use planning. We took the train (so convenient!) from Santa Clara to Mountain View. We were met at Centennial Plaza by Community Development Director Randy Tsuda.

Mr. Tsuda talked about the value that a group like MVCSP brings to the City planning process. He said that while planning staff may not always agree with MVCSP's views, staff has found it very valuable to have a group that advocates for sustainable development because it brings balance to the public discourse. He cited the Mintons' project as an example of when MVCSP's perspective brought a lot to conversation and influenced the outcome!

Environmental Planning Commissioner Eric Anderson and Councilmember Margaret Abe-Koga met us at Dana Street Roasting Co. where we enjoyed the atmosphere at one of Downtown's many outdoor cafe spaces. Mr. Anderson and Councilmember Abe-Koga talked about how important it is that MVCSP is a group of local advocates, as there is nothing more valuable to the public process than the perspective of residents. Mr. Anderson also stressed how much he likes to hear about local examples of sustainable planning practices, rather than cool stuff happening far away. Interesting feedback!

Finally, we met with Riad Elbdour and Bruce England, two Mountain View residents and active MVCSP members. Bruce and Riad told Green Action members about how often our group meets, what we do, how we make decisions, and what it's like to be involved. Riad talked about how much he likes being part of a group that is respectful and wants to work within the City process.

Bruce talked about how he likes that MVCSP brings people with lots of different backgrounds together in one group. He gave a little background on how MV Cool Cities, the City's Environmental Sustainability Task Force, Green Mountain View, and MVCSP each developed and how the different groups continue to coordinate. Bruce also talked about his work with the City's Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Committee, to which MVCSP members have sometimes contributed.

After a whirlwind hour some of us hopped on the train and some carpooled back to Santa Clara. It was a really fun afternoon. MVCSP hopes that Santa Clara Green Action members had fun and that they might like to get something similar going in their own city. It'd be great to work together. We'll see!

Eat your vegetables. Exercise. Get plenty of sleep. Adopt good city planning policies??

Did you know that the way a city is designed has a huge impact on the health of the people that live there? Want to know how?

Join Councilmember Margaret Abe-Koga, the Health Trust and MVCSP as we host Heather Wooten, senior associate and expert on the links between health and city planning with Public Health Law & Policy on Thursday, January 27 at City Hall. The event will be kicked off with a short film about healthy, eco-friendly living being that’s happening right here in Mountain View!

Healthy Communities in Practice and Policy
January 27, 7 p.m.-8:45 p.m.
Council Chambers, City Hall
500 Castro Street, Mountain View
Free admission
Light refreshments will be served