びびなび : サンフランシスコ : (アメリカ合衆国) San Francisco

Plus, attend a zero waste event as part of your new year’s resolution!





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"Click here [ https://www.mountainview.gov/our-city/departments/city-managers-office/sustainability/archives ] to read this newsletter in Spanish, Chinese, or Russian."

In this quarter's newsletter: (click section name to jump directly to the topic)


* Year of the Water Heater: Sign-up for rebate updates [ #YWH3 ]
* Quiet lawncare for your neighborhood, award-winning innovation [ #ELawncare ]
* The Plant-based Pantry: Peanut butter cookies to share [ #pbp ]
* Recycling and Zero Waste: Helpful holiday schedules [ #zw ]
* Biodiversity and Urban Forestry Updates [ #bio ]
* Prepare for a Water-Efficient Spring [ #water ]
* MV GO Shuttle: Save Money and Get Rewarded! [ #Transit ]





Year of the Water Heater





Wattson cartoon water heater in living room drinking hot drink

Old Water Heaters Fail More in Winter

Be ready in case cold water strikes! If your water heater is over 8 years old, note Silicon Valley Clean Energy’s emergency water heater replacement [ https://svcleanenergy.org/emergency-water-heater ]phone number: 408-260-5255. The program offers same-day service for temporary hot water and will help you upgrade to a heat pump as well.

Year of the Water Heater Update

Wattson costume and sign in park

Wattson and the City team has been spreading the word about heat pump water heaters at City events, including Monster Bash, photographed below. If you see them at an event, say "Hi" to get the latest water heater rebate information and a Wattson goodie!

While all of the City’s available rebates have been reserved, an interest list is available [ https://forms.cloud.microsoft/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=xuiJCiu_g0qqrRmbzM0rkn9aDVBBL-BGhLJ-0POwa0xUNlFLRjFITjVLNU9OUEYzOFVYV0NQRU9JSy4u ] and those signed up will be notified as soon as any additional funding becomes available.



Get Electric Lawncare from the Award Winning Program at the Dayworker Center of MV





The Day Worker Center of Mountain View’s Electric Tool Library Program has been selected as the recipient for the 2025 Beacon Leadership and Innovation Award, a competitive statewide award. The Electric Tool Library Program is a collaboration between the Day Worker Center and the City of Mountain View that has provided hundreds of hours of sustainable, pollution-free landscaping services. Residents can learn more about the program and tools available and reserve electric gardening services on the Dayworker Center of MV's website [ https://www.dayworkercentermv.org/en/tool-library ]. 

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Worker using electric leaf blower in park





The Plant-Based Pantry





"Our plant-based eating program focuses on promoting healthy and sustainable food choices, supporting equitable access to healthy food, and spreading awareness about the positive health and environmental impacts of a plant-based diet."

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

peanut butter plant-based cookie [ https://zerowastechef.com/2022/08/24/how-to-make-3-ingredient-gnocchi/ ]

'Tis the season. Whip up these cookies for a warm, sweet treat to share! Find the quick video at our MV Sustainability Instagram page [ https://www.instagram.com/mvsustainability ] and follow for a delicious monthly plant-based recipe reel.

Check out last winter’s recipe for a plant-based sugar cookie to decorate [ https://www.mountainview.gov/home/showdocument?id=10479&t=638700687118445804 ].

Ingredients


* 3/4 cup plant-based butter
* 1 cup sugar
* 1 cup brown sugar
* 1 cup peanut butter
* ½ cup sweetened almond milk
* 2 tsp vanilla extract
* 1 tsp baking soda
* ½ tsp salt
* 2 ½ cup flour
* 1 cup chocolate chips

Directions


* Preheat oven to 350 degrees
* Mix together the butter, sugar, brown sugar, and peanut butter
* Add the milk and vanilla
* Combine the flour, salt, and baking soda
* Fold in the chocolate chips
* Roll the dough into balls and place on a baking sheet
* Bake for 10 minutes and let cool before enjoying!










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Recycling and Zero Waste Upcoming Events





Holiday Waste Collection Schedule

Mark your calendar! No trash collection will occur on Christmas Day and New Year's Day. If your collection day falls on or after these holidays, collection will occur one day later that week. Use the Recology Collection Calendar [ https://www.recology.com/recology-mountain-view/collection-calendar/ ] widget to see how holidays impact the collection schedule for your address.

waste bins on curb

Holiday Tree Disposal

Holiday trees will be collected curbside for no charge on your compost day until January 16. Make sure to:


* Cut large trees into pieces no longer than five feet.
* Place smaller trees in your compost cart and cut them if necessary to fit with the lid closed.
* Remove all decorations, tinsel, and metal or plastic stands.

Non-flocked trees will be recycled. Flocked trees are considered trash and will go to the landfill. To reduce waste, please consider avoiding the use of flocked trees.
For more information, contact Recology Mountain View at 650-967-3034 or ContactUsRMV@recology.com.

Plain christmas tree

Holiday Light Take Back Options

Got burnt out or broken holiday string lights? For the health and safety of our community and the environment, these lights should not be placed in our trash or recycling carts. They become tangled at recycling centers and can damage equipment and/or cause delays. Find the disposal option that works for you:


* Drop-off at the SMaRT Station at 301 Carl Road, Sunnyvale. Look for the e-waste collection container in the Buy-Back and Drop-Off Center.
* Mail string lights to the Holiday LEDs recycling program [ https://www.holidayleds.com/free-light-recycling ], and receive a coupon to use on future HolidayLEDs.com light purchases.
* Dispose of them safely by making a free drop-off appointment at HHW.org [ https://hhw.sccgov.org/home ] or call 408-299-7300.

multicolorerd holiday lights close-up

 Home Composting Workshop

Find out how to build healthy soil through this FREE Compost Basics Workshop for Santa Clara County residents:

*Saturday, February 21*
*10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. *
*Mountain View Library, 2nd Floor Program Room (585 Franklin Street)*

The Composting Education Program offers discounted backyard composting bins to Santa Clara County residents who attend the workshops. We are currently distributing the FreeGarden EARTH System [ https://ucanr.edu/sites/default/files/2025-04/FGE%202025%20Spec%20Sheet%20for%20PostWorkshop%20eMail.pdf ] to all who qualify.

Register online [ https://ucanr.edu ] or by calling 408-918-4640.

Can’t make it to this event? Other free composting workshops are available year-round at locations throughout Santa Clara County. Visit the UC Agriculture and Natural Resources program website [ https://ucanr.edu ] to learn more.

Speaker teaches compost workshop outside

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Biodiversity and Urban Forestry





Biodiversity & Urban Forest Plan Moves Into Next Phase

Community Input:

The City’s Biodiversity and Urban Forest Plan continues to advance with strong community engagement and valuable public input guiding the next steps. This past fall, the draft Plan was posted online for early public review ahead of two presentations to the Parks and Recreation Commission (PRC) and the Environmental Planning Commission (EPC) in October. By sharing the draft in advance, the City aimed to provide residents with ample time to read, reflect, and contribute feedback before the formal public meetings.

Both the PRC and EPC meetings provided additional opportunities for community members to share their insights and priorities. The thoughtful input received has been instrumental in shaping the next iteration of the Plan.

Next Steps:

The project team is now working to refine and update the draft Biodiversity and Urban Forest Plan based on this community feedback. The updated draft will be presented to the Parks and Recreation Commission on January 21, 2026, where the Commission will review the revisions and consider a recommendation to advance the Plan to the City Council.

Community participation remains a cornerstone of this effort. The City extends its thanks to the many residents who have taken the time to engage with the process so far, and encourages everyone to stay involved at BiodiversityMV.com [ https://collaborate.mountainview.gov/biodiversity ] as the Plan moves toward final adoption. Together we are helping ensure a thriving, resilient, and biodiverse future for Mountain View.

Carto Street Ped Mall flower baskets

City Develops Dark Sky Ordinance

The City of Mountain View is advancing work on a Citywide Dark Sky Ordinance, a priority project in the City Council’s FY 2023–2025 Work Plan. The ordinance will establish clear standards for exterior lighting, including covering lighting levels, fixture types, shielding, and operating practices, to reduce light pollution, support wildlife, and help residents enjoy the night sky.

Project work began in June 2025 with technical analysis and early community engagement. Since then, staff have completed initial research and held stakeholder meetings with groups including the Bird Alliance, Sierra Club, Livable Mountain View, Green Spaces Mountain View, and the Mountain View Coalition for Sustainable Planning. An online community survey was also conducted to gather broader input.

Using this feedback, staff will now begin drafting the ordinance. The draft is expected to be reviewed by the Environmental Planning Commission and then the City Council during public hearings in the second quarter of 2026.

For updates and future meeting notifications, visit the City's Dark Sky page [ https://www.mountainview.gov/our-city/departments/community-development/planning/dark-sky-ordinance ].

Stars in clear night sky

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Prepare for a Water-Efficient Spring

Water banner

Plan Your Spring Garden with Landscape Rebates

Winter is a great time to begin planning your water-efficient spring garden. Valley Water offers several rebates to help upgrade your yard and irrigation system before planting season begins. Explore landscape guides and design resources [ https://www.mountainview.gov/our-city/departments/public-works/water-and-sewer-services/water-conservation/landscape ] to gather inspiration and get started.

Rebates are available for converting grass to low-water-use plants, replacing qualifying irrigation hardware with efficient equipment, and adding rainwater capture features such as cisterns or rain gardens. Learn more and apply online. [ https://www.mountainview.gov/our-city/departments/public-works/water-and-sewer-services/water-conservation/residential/rebates-and-programs ]

Check for Leaks

Even during cooler months, hidden leaks can waste thousands of gallons of water. Toilets and irrigation systems are common sources of leaks. Take a moment to inspect inside your home and garden to identify any issues and make repairs before spring watering begins.

Your water meter is the best place to start your leak investigation. Visit the Leak Check page [ https://www.mountainview.gov/our-city/departments/public-works/water-and-sewer-services/water-conservation/residential/how-to-read-your-meter ] for step-by-step instructions, or contact us for assistance.

Order Free Water-Saving Devices

Mountain View residents and businesses can order free water-saving devices through Valley Water’s Online Shopping Cart. Available items include high-efficiency showerheads, faucet aerators, hose nozzles, and toilet leak detection tablets. These simple tools can make a big difference in everyday water use. Browse the list of available products [ https://www.mountainview.gov/our-city/departments/public-works/water-and-sewer-services/water-conservation/residential/rebates-and-programs ]and place your order today.

Water Resources [ https://www.mountainview.gov/our-city/departments/public-works/water-and-sewer-services/water-conservation ] | 650-903-6216 | ConserveWater@MountainView.gov

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Skip the Traffic, Save Money, and Get Rewarded!

Tired of wasting time in traffic and overspending on travel? Use MVGO’s Trip Planner [ https://mvgo.org/ ]to explore the best ways to get around Mountain View.

Sign up for MVgo SmartCommute [ https://mvgo.org/use-mvgo-smartcommute-earn-rewards/ ] to log trips, earn points toward gift cards, and enjoy free rides on MVgo and Mountain View Community Shuttles — no badge or fee required!
Make your commute easier, your wallet happier, and our community healthier. Learn more at MVgo.org

*MVgo programs are provided by the Mountain View Transportation Management Association a non-profit organization.

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shuttle







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