2024 is here, and we have a lot more to celebrate than just the new year! In 2023, the Town of Atherton passed our updated Climate Action Plan (CAP) – and in the new year, we have big plans to make our community healthier, safer, and more resilient through the sustainable actions outlined in the plan.

This month, we’re reflecting on the progress we’ve made in the past and looking forward to what the new year will bring for Atherton’s climate action. Our town won’t reach our climate goals alone: to create a truly sustainable and resilient future, everyone in Atherton needs to take action – big or small. As we look ahead to see how our Town is prioritizing sustainability in 2024, we’re also spotlighting high-impact opportunities for residents to make a serious difference in reducing emissions and creating a more resilient Atherton.

In the last year, our Town has seen serious progress in our commitment to clean, reliable energy and a cleaner, safer, and more accessible community. Our updated CAP outlines priority strategies to achieve a 49% emissions reduction by 2030 – and to achieve carbon neutrality by 2045. In the new year, we’re focusing on building energy, transportation, solid waste, and carbon sequestration as key areas to achieving these goals.

The new Atherton Climate Solutions Dashboard will help our Town and its residents explore the actions within our CAP, see what progress has been made within each focus area, and learn about ways to get involved with climate action in their own individual lives.

Implementing our Climate Action Plan in the new year will also lead to the Town of Atherton offering new programs, rebates, and incentives that will get residents involved with home and business electrification, savings on energy saving appliances, and access to the newest and highest-technology appliances.

For example, in the new year, residents can receive a $250 rebate on electric leaf blowers and any associated batteries and chargers. Electric leaf blowers are quieter, cleaner, and more convenient than their gas-powered counterparts, which release harmful pollutants like carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and volatile organic compounds. Through programs like this and more, our Town is working to expand functional and sustainable appliance use and make new items more accessible to our community.

The Town isn’t the only body offering new and sustainable programming to our community. We are also working to make outside opportunities, like the TECH Clean California initiative, accessible and known to our residents.

TECH Clean California is one of many programs working to accelerate the adoption of clean space and water heating technology across California homes through easy-to-navigate resources and funding rebates and incentives. Considering the plethora of federal, state, regional, and local programs, a group of San Mateo County residents developed this guide to simplify all the available resources.

All sustainable actions, no matter how large, contribute to our community’s greener future. However, actions that target our highest sources of emissions (like fossil fuels that provide power to our homes and vehicles) have exponentially larger impacts on our climate goals and environment.

If you’re ready to take a bigger step in your individual sustainability journey in the new year, we have suggestions for residents that can bring climate commitments to the next level. Higher-impact actions can sometimes require a bit more planning and oversight, but local and federal resources are making these changes easier than ever to implement.

Residents interested in electrifying their homes and appliances can utilize the free HomeIntel concierge consultation through phone or in-home service, can monitor their home’s energy use and save through an online portal, or utilize both services. Electrification of home appliances – like switching over to a heat pump rather than traditional gas furnaces – can save both energy and costs in the long run.

Not ready for electrification – or want to see what other actions you can take for a greener 2024? Visit the What You Can Do portal on the Atherton Climate Solutions Dashboard to see more opportunities for rebates, waste and energy reduction, efficiency, and more.