One of the things the People of Fairfax told us in our survey was that we need to help people know about financial incentives that are available to help with doing environmental projects. 

We are going to try to do that. I am hoping we can start a new page our CAC Website, and keep it updated, over time, with such opportunities. I am pretty sure the County of Marin has something like this. 

One piece of year-end good news is that Congress passed, and the President signed into law, the new budget and relief package this week, and it includes some provisions for funding renewable energy projects that ALL FAIRFAX PEOPLE can access. 

In particular, the bill included:

1. The bill extended the solar investment tax credit (PV and solar thermal) for two more years - get those panels in while they will be cheap! This program also applies to small wind energy installations. 
2. The bill extended credits for energy efficient homes, up to $2,000 for new energy efficient homes through 2021. 
3. The bill reauthorized the Weatherization Assistance Program for low-income households, and this program now includes renewable energy installations as weatherization measures. 
4. The bill permanently extended the Section 179D Tax deduction for energy-efficient commercial buildings - Fairfax businesses, take note!
5. The bill includes more money for buying energy efficient equipment and water saving measures. 
6. The bill includes an electric vehicle credit for electric scooters and motorcycles for vehicles. 

So, my friends, there is help out there, and we should all do what we can to use these incentives to invest in the health of our community. 

​Happy New Years to everyone. 

As dedicated readers know, we have been conducting a survey over the last couple of months, about the things the people of Fairfax think the Town should be doing with respect to the Climate. 

We are putting the full results of the survey up on the website. CLICK HERE!

We noted a few general themes:

1. People are more interested in getting information online rather than in workshops or events. Maybe information booths at community events (POST virus). 
2. People want Town communications to include more information on our climate activities. And, the Town should hire staff to help with this need. 
3. People want to be encouraged and helped, but not forced to do good things. 
4. Strong interest in finding ways to help people pay for things that help with climate. 
5. BUT, require new buildings to be more efficient than base building code, and require energy audits and retrofits at time of sale.
6. The Town should walk the talk. That is, the Town needs to reduce its own environmental footprint, use renewables, etc. 
6. Enforce the existing food waste composting and recyclables ordinance. 
7. Plant more trees and give away trees. 
8. Develop program of local offsets to fund projects by residents. 

We thank you for your feedback. 

As noted before, we are continuing our Climate Action Plan Conversations. 

Please note; our next one will be Monday, January 11, from 6:30 - 7:30. Be there or be square!

(P.S. I included the photo above because this is the REAL Fairfax Climate Action Committee; in a previous post, I included a photo of a zoom call, but i did not have one of us, so I used some stock photo thing; the above is your team!) 

Monday night, we will have our next Climate Emergency Conversation. We will talk about buildings; how do we work together to reduce our climate impact here. 

Studies by many organizations are showing the health and economic benefits of all-electric homes. 

The Rocky Mountain institute recently issued a report (HERE) based on detailed energy and financial analysis, and found that all-electric homes are more cost-effective in every city studied. In most of the cities, they were less expensive to build, and in all of the cities they were less expensive to operate. 

I know this seems counter-intuitive, but new technologies are making it every more possible. 

The County of Marin has passed an Energy Reach Code, making it easier to build an all-electric house in Marin County easier than building a mixed-fuel house. They did so after completing an exhaustive cost-benefit study that showed that the all-electric homes are more cost-effective in Marin than mixed-fuel homes. 

The County has asked that all jurisdictions in the County follow suit, to make it easier for builders in the County with only one set of rules. So far, Mill Valley and San Anselmo have followed the lead of the County. 

In Fairfax we build very few new homes each year, so this kind of requirement will not impact most people. But, it will be a significant step towards County unity and towards our goal. 

We in Fairfax have set the most aggressive Climate Goal in the County - to become Carbon Neutral by 2030. Doing so will not be easy, but we can do it if we choose to come together and build a better, more cost-effective world. 

Please join us and let's talk about how we can do this. Together, we can. 

ZOOM HERE:
or Here: https://mazzetti.zoom.us/j/96303584336?from=msft
Meeting ID:  963 0358 4336
Phone one-tap:
US: +16699006833,,96303584336# 
or +12532158782,,96303584336#
or HERE: 

(The news over the last few weeks is ELECTRIC. 

Last week, both San Francisco (HERE) and Oakland (HERE) passed ordinances that require all new construction (homes, restaurants, businesses) to be built with all energy coming from electricity. This is because we are increasingly able to generate electricity from renewable sources. And, California is continuing to lead the country in moving our entire electrical system towards renewable sources. 

This is a global trend. In the entire country of the United Kingdom, all buildings must be all-electric beginning in 2025 (HERE). 

The State of California's Energy Commission is considering when to impose the same requirements on all buildings here. The question is not if, the only question is WHEN. 

The County of Marin has adopted a REACH Code for Energy. This code makes it easier to build all-electric homes than to build homes with natural gas. The County of Marin is encouraging all jurisdictions in the County to follow there lead. Already, Mill Valley and San Anselmo have done so. 

Fairfax is in the midst of planning its Climate Action Plan. The Climate Action Committee is looking to hear from the people of this town, to help us move forward in wise, and equitable ways. Join us on Monday, as we think together about what we should do. 

ZOOM HERE:
or Here: https://mazzetti.zoom.us/j/96303584336?from=msft
Meeting ID:  963 0358 4336
Phone one-tap:
US: +16699006833,,96303584336# 
or +12532158782,,96303584336#
or HERE: ​

MONDAY, December 14, 6:30 - 7:30

ZOOM HERE:
or Here: https://mazzetti.zoom.us/j/96303584336?from=msft
Meeting ID:  963 0358 4336
Phone one-tap:
US: +16699006833,,96303584336# 
or +12532158782,,96303584336#

We have now had two Town sessions to discuss what it is going to take for us to achieve our Carbon neutrality goals. 

Next Monday, we will hold our third conversation. We will talk about buildings. How can we reduce the energy we consume in our homes and our businesses. How can we, like San Francisco, like Oakland, like our fellow cities, how can we can move towards clean energy, witthout costing us all an arm and a leg. This is our challenge. 

It will not be easy, but we must find a way. 

Come and talk with us, and lets brainstorm not, why we can't but how we can. 

Last week, the engineering firm I work for interviewed for a project with the Prairie Island Nation of Native Americans. Their Tribal Council President said to us, "we see that the rest of the people in this country either can't, or won't deal with this problem. So, we are the ones who must protect our world and show people how." We need to learn from them. We are the people of Fairfax. We can lead the way, and we must. 

​Be part of the solution.