My wife likes to tell the story of how we came to live in Fairfax. We wanted to be in Marin County for all kinds of reasons, but we had no idea how we could ever afford to do so. When we met with a mortgage broker, he laughed. But, we would not be deterred. 

So, our Real Estate agent started showing us all of these little homes, all needing a LOT of work. 

After several depressing visits (in San Anselmo!) she brought us to this little house in Fairfax. This house is built on the side of a hill, overlooking a beautiful valley. I took one step into this house, looked out the window (the same one you see above) and said "we have to buy it." My wife was NOT excited about it (she is much smarter than me, and she saw the tremendous amount of work that this house needed), but I am so grateful that she agreed. 

And I think this house, situated in the natural beauty of our shared community, is exactly why we must all care about this Earth Day celebration. As I sit here at my home office, safely working from home, I can look out and see the trees, see the birds. 

Ironically, we are all spending our day today, sheltered at home. Some of us are able to get out and enjoy this place we call home. All of us are trying to work together to keep each other healthy, and safe. Let's all celebrate this place we live, and let's vow to take our collective energy, and to heal our world from this damn virus, and then heal our world from the virus of global warming. 

Please be part of the solution. 

Sign up now for MCE Deep Green. 

Forward this email to a friend, and ask them to join us. 

Listen to a bird, feel the wind, smell the trees, and let's make it happen. 

Thank you all. 

We are all painfully aware of the health and economic crises that the Coronavirus continues to inflict on our community, and on the communities across the country, and around the world. Even more tragic, maybe, is the way these crises seem to be further enflaming the political passions that prevent us from coming together to tackle our common challenges. 

And, we must come together as a Fairfax community, as a global community to tackle the lurking threat that is not going away - Climate Change. 

This week, the NOAA (yes, the NOAA of the Trump Administration) said that March was the warmest March in recorded history, and we are on track for 2020 to be the warmest year in recorded history. 

And, other scientists tell us that Australia, after witnessing the incredibly destructive wildfires, is now seeing the largest destruction of the Great Barrier Coral Reef ever recorded. 

And, according to the Journal Science, the Western US is now in the grips of the first human-caused megadrought. That is us, and that is our fires. 

Yes, the coronavirus and its impacts are terrible. We must get these under control, and we must do so while at the same time, putting us on the track to dealing with our even larger challenge. 

Both challenges will take collective action. 

So, forward this email to a friend, and ask them to join us. 

Find ways to drive a bit less. 

Sign up for MCE Deep Green electricity. 

And find ways to shift towards electrifying your life. We must come together to get this done. We will come together to get this done. 

Thank you, from the CAC!

This is the week that public health authorities say we will experience the worst of the Coronavirus crisis. We, especially in Northern California, have flattened the curve, so things are not as bad as we may have feared. But, many people are sick and many people are in the hospital, and many people are dying, or losing loved ones. And, many people are being affected by the economic consequences of effectively shutting down our economy. Good Friday, indeed. 

Our hearts are with all of those who are suffering. 

I did want, though, to give you a few pieces of good news. 

First, I wrote before about our partnership with Sustainable Fairfax to help as many of us as possible to shift to purchasing our electricity from Marin Clean Energy. This is probably the most impactful, easiest measure any of us can take. And, if we all do this, it will make a substantial difference in the Town's Carbon Footprint. We had originally set a goal of doubling our participation by Earth Day. 260 Fairfax Households currently but Deep Green. Since Sustainable Fairfax started their work and joined with us, the COUNTY has increased its Deep Green participation by 1000 households. Once Again, Fairfax is leading the entire county. But now we must do our part, too. 

And, one last gift. If you need a way to keep your mind occupied, come and join some of us in this class on Building Electrification; yet another opportunity for us. 

Please go now to Deep Green, and sign up. 

Please forward this email to a Fairfax Friend, and ask them to join us by signing up on our website. 

Please be safe, and continue to live with the generosity and joy that this weekend represents. 

Our friends at Sustainable Fairfax have been hard at work on the MCE participation front. I heard yesterday that we have already signed up another 1000 households in Marin for Deep Green. This is fantastic! It will make a substantial impact on the County emissions. In so doing, we will make a powerful statement about what a small community can do, and show others what they can do. 

If you have have NOT yet signed up for Deep Green, check out SFX HERE. 

Thank you, sign up for MCE, send this to a friend, and BE WELL. 

Ha! First off, my amazing wife just informed me that yesterday was NOT Earth Day, but most decidedly April Fool's Day! (Sorry about that).

On another foolish note, under the coronavirus radar, the US EPA, pursuant to Presidential Directive finalized its rule to lower the mileage requirements for new cars, and to take away the exemption for the State of California to issue its own such regulations, due to the unique nature of air quality in our state. 

This move has serious consequences for the Climate. 

You may be aware, every year the Town of Fairfax conducts an estimate of our aggregate Greenhouse Gas emissions. Year after year, the largest part of our emissions is the cars, vans, trucks, motorcycles, we drive. If we are going to solve our Climate Problem, we must move the needle on this. Of course, this is one of the hardest things for us to change. 

Transportation is not one of the current focuses of the CAC for this fiscal year, but it will be in the future. And, we are certainly focusing on it as we develop our Climate Action Plan, targeting 0 emissions by 2030. 

So, here is where YOU come in. 

As always, we obviously can't wait for the Washington politicians to get this right. As always, it is going to be up to use, the people, the communities like us, who must lead the way. 

There are lots of ways each of us can start to move towards Zero Carbon transportation. I don't know about you, but I can't afford a Tesla, and I can't afford to buy any new car right now. But, I am determined that, as soon as I can, I will buy an all-electric car (to go with my MCE Deep Green Commitment). In the meantime, I try to maximize my walking, bicycling and public transportation options. 

So, on this day of my April foolishness, and, much more importantly, the foolishness of our Federal Government, let us continue to stand up and do whats right and show the rest of the country the way. 

Drive less. 

Sign up for MCE Deep Green. 

Send this email to a friend and ask them to sign up for CAC communications. 

And, stay healthy. 

(And, as a final gift, here's another resource for whiling away the shelter at home hours). 

I had a person come to me at work a few years ago and tell me we needed to have more fun at work; our company was just not that much fun to work for. I told that person that I was not a very fun guy, so, if he would build a plan, I would put him in charge. He did, and I did, and it worked very well. 

Today is April Fool's Day, (AND EARTH DAY!) and it seems like a good day to do something fun, especially as we all wait out the curve flattening. But my old problem still dogs me. 

But today i got a newsletter from the San Francisco Public Library with suggestions for books to read during these times, and in recognition that this is Earth Month. And so, i offer you a different kind of fun, and, of course, much health. 

Stay sheltered, sign up for Deep Green (NOW!) and forward this to a friend, asking them to join us. 

Celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day
Five Essential Ways to Take Action for Earth
​

• Become a recycling pro. Recology SF now recycles Tetra Paks, bundled plastic bags, CDs and more. See everything you can recycle at sfrecycles.org.
• Use the Environmental Working Group’s Healthy Living App when choosing products (sunscreen, toothpaste) to buy. Ratings are based on health and sustainability. Download the app.
• Unused medicine is a threat to public health and the environment. SF’s Department of the Environment provides a list of locations that can dispose of meds properly at sfenvironment.org/meds.
• Feel good about eating right by choosing sustainable seafood with help from Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch.
• Receive 100% renewable energy with CleanPowerSF’s SuperGreen program. 

Green Reads for Climate Action Month 
Spend the month of April sheltering in place while reading more about the Earth, science and nature and learn what you can do when the COVID-19 pandemic is over to continue to combat climate change. Every day can be Earth Day by making small changes that have a big impact on the environment. 
 
Fiction Enjoy a bounty of timely and thrilling novels. 
Non-Fiction Immerse yourself in the political, philosophical and spiritual responses to the climate crisis.
Children & Teens nspire activism in kids of all ages.