RESOURCES

Acterra

Acterra is a San Francisco Bay Area 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Palo Alto that brings people together to create local solutions for a healthy planet. We focus on what you can do locally to address current environmental problems. In the face of daunting environmental challenges, our science-based approach instills hope while building community.

 

https://www.acterra.org/

BayREN

BayREN serves the needs of many different people in the Bay Area who want to save energy, save water, save the environment — and save money with lower utility bills.

 

https://www.bayren.org/

Building Decarbonization Coalition

The Building Decarbonization Coalition unites building industry stakeholders with energy providers, environmental organizations and local governments to help electrify homes and workspaces with clean energy.

 

Through research, policy development, and consumer inspiration, the BDC is pursuing fast, fair action to accelerate the development of zero-emission homes and buildings that will help the nation cut one of its largest sources of climate pollution, while creating safe, healthy and affordable communities.

 

https://www.buildingdecarb.org/

Climate Smart San Jose’s San Jose Building Electrification Plan

The San Jose Building Electrification Plan is the City’s long-term plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and address climate change and identifies the electrification of buildings as a strategic area of focus for our community.

 

The Existing Building Electrification Plan is a framework to encourage and incentivize the electrification of homes and businesses in San Jose. It offers strategies to raise awareness about the benefits of using electric appliances and the health impacts of using gas; encourage the growth of high-quality building electrification jobs in San Jose; reduce housing and energy costs through building electrification programs; and increase access to clean and reliable energy. The Draft Plan does not propose any mandates to switch out existing natural gas for electric equipment.

 

https://www.sanjoseca.gov/your-government/departments-offices/environmental-services/climate-smart-san-jos/existing-building-electrification

HomeIntel (HEA)

HomeIntel is a free service that creates a custom plan and provides coaching to reduce wasted energy in your home.

 

https://www.hea.com/hea-web/P4P-020.jspage?prepareForm=true&loc=3P

Rocky Mountain Institute

RMI decarbonizes energy systems through rapid, market-based change in the world’s most critical geographies to align with a 1.5°C future and address the climate crisis. We work with businesses, policymakers, communities and other organizations to identify and scale energy system interventions that will cut greenhouse gas emissions at least 50% by 2030.

 

Since 1981, RMI has utilized our unique techno-economic expertise and whole-systems thinking to publish groundbreaking research and analysis. We bring together collaborations of rare reach, range and expertise—creating unconventional partnerships and mobilizing action to drive change on the massive scale needed to combat the climate crisis.

 

https://rmi.org

San Jose Clean Energy

San José Clean Energy, or SJCE, is San José’s local, not-for-profit electricity supplier operated by the City of San José. Since 2019, we have provided clean energy for residents and businesses at competitive rates, while also offering community programs, local control, and more transparency and accessibility.

 

Our community is at the core of what we do. You’re making a big impact in the fight against climate change just by being our customer. We play a crucial role in meeting San José’s ambitious carbon neutral by 2030 goal and Climate Smart San José, the city’s climate action plan.

 

https://sanjosecleanenergy.org/

Silicon Valley Clean Energy

Silicon Valley Clean Energy (SVCE) is redefining the local electricity market, providing our residents and businesses with new clean energy choices—renewable and carbon free electricity at competitive rates.

 

Thirteen communities in Santa Clara County govern SVCE, creating a community-owned agency. For these communities, SVCE is your official electricity provider.

 

We work in partnership with PG&E. We buy clean electricity, direct from the source—encouraging the kind of market growth and competition that results in more renewable energy and lower energy generation rates. PG&E continues to deliver electricity over existing infrastructure, maintain power lines and provide customer service. Your bill continues to come from PG&E, with SVCE’s lower generation charges replacing those from PG&E.

 

https://www.svcleanenergy.org/

Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment

We can feed people, sustain communities and provide clean water while stewarding the environment.
The Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment is working toward a future in which societies meet people’s needs for water, food, health and other vital services while sustaining the planet. As the university's hub of interdisciplinary environment and sustainability research, the Stanford Woods Institute is the go-to place for Stanford faculty, researchers and students to collaborate on environmental research. Their interdisciplinary work crosses sectors and disciplines, advancing solutions to the most critical, complex environmental and sustainability challenges.

 

Working on campus and around the globe, the Stanford Woods Institute community develops environmental leaders; informs decision-makers with unbiased scientific data; and convenes experts from all of Stanford’s seven schools, other leading academic institutions, government, NGOs, foundations and business. The Stanford Woods Institute is pursuing breakthrough knowledge and solutions that link knowledge to action and solve the environmental challenges of today and tomorrow.

 

https://woods.stanford.edu

Switch Is On

The Switch is On campaign was founded in 2019 by the Building Decarbonization Coalition (BDC) to educate everyone about the importance of home electrification.

 

https://www.switchison.org/

TECH Clean California

TECH Clean California is a $120 million initiative designed to help advance the state’s mission to achieve carbon neutrality by 2045. This will be done by driving the market adoption of low-emissions space and water heating technologies for existing single and multifamily homes across California—a notable source of the state’s carbon footprint. Additionally, 40% of program benefits will be targeted towards low-income and disadvantaged communities. The initiative was developed as part of California Senate Bill 1477 and is funded by California gas corporation ratepayers under the auspices of the California Public Utilities Commission.

 

Key Activities:

  • Provide comprehensive guidance on product incentives, pilots, workforce development and training opportunities and local and state policies that impact the market.
  • Expand the reach of consumer awareness campaign, The Switch is On, in markets with TECH initiatives in place.
  • Develop custom messaging and outreach for low-income customers and disadvantaged communities through low-income facilitators and CBOs.
  • Collect and publish sales data, energy and GHG impacts to inform California’s long-term decarbonization strategy.

 

https://energy-solution.com/tech/