You Can Go Greener

• Sign up for a free online NorCal GO account to connect with transit, carpool/vanpool, biking, or walking options for any trip and win gift cards by logging non-car trips.
• Visit the Sacramento Area Bicycle Advocates (SABA) website or Sacramento Bicycle Kitchen website to learn how to ride a bike, buy a used bike, repair your bike, and other biking events. The SABA website also has a list of apps and tools you can use to plan your bike trips.
• Purchase a Connect Card to ride transit (buses, light rail, shuttles, etc.) across multiple transit agencies in the region including Sacramento Regional Transit, El Dorado Transit, Etran, Folsom Stage Line, Placer County Transit, Roseville Transit, SCT/Link, Yolobus, and Yuba-Sutter Transit.
• Sacramento Regional Transit is the main transit operator in Sacramento County - check out their website for more info on how to pay fares or plan trips! SacRT also offers the following:
  •  SacRT Flex is a curb-to-curb shared shuttle service for qualified riders, including seniors (age 62+), low-income individuals, and persons with disabilities. Fare is only $2.50/trip!
  • SacRT GO Paratransit is a door-to-door shared ride ADA-complaint transportation service for those that can’t use the SacRT bus and light rail. The service takes reservations, fare is $5/trip, and personal care attendants ride free.

• Driving an electric vehicle (EV) can fully reduce your transportation emissions if powered by clean electricity sources. Even without clean electricity, EVs can still cut transportation emissions by half or more.  Find EV incentives through your local utility or look for state or federal incentives:
  • SMUD Website Incentives:
    • SMUD Charge@Home program offers rebates of up to $600 toward EV charging equipment and/or electric circuit installation costs
    • Register your EV with SMUD to receive a discount on your electricity bill
    • Income-eligible customers in single-family homes get free EV chargers and free EV circuit installation
    • Call one of SMUD's EV Advisors for help
  • PGE Website Incentives:
    • When purchasing or leasing a pre-owned EV, receive up to $1,000 in rebates, with income-qualified applicants receiving up to $4,000
    • Receive a rebate of up to 50% of the purchase price of EV charging equipment
    • Income-qualified customers receive a rebate of up to $1,000 for installation of an EV charger or $5,000 for a panel upgrade AND installation of an EV charger
  • CleanCars4All EV purchasing rebate allows income-eligible customers to get up to $12,000 toward the purchase of a new or used EV, up to $2,000 toward charging equipment, or up to $7,500 for an electric bike.
  • Find more incentives at the CARB DriveClean webpage.
• Find public EV chargers using the PlugShare website or the app.

Transportation Management Associations (TMAs) are independent, non-profit membership associations, representing employers and helping commuters find alternatives to driving alone to work. TMAs offer benefits such as free transit passes, carpool matching, or guaranteed rides home. In Sacramento County, there is ​the 50 Corridor TMA and North Natomas Jibe. Ask your workplace if they participate in a TMA program or look at the TMA website to see if your community can use TMA benefits.

Having an efficient and all-electric home is the best way to decrease residential emissions. As electric heat pumps can heat and cool your home in one system, use 75% less energy than traditional heaters, and cost less to run, switching to a heat pump for space or water heating is one of the best energy and climate solutions. There are existing incentives for heat pumps and other efficient building upgrades, such as induction cooktops, clothes washers, refrigerators, thermostats, and electric panel upgrades:

• If you are a SMUD customer, use the Xerohome tool to identify custom energy upgrades and incentives for your home.
• Visit the Switch is On for a full list of building electrification incentives, including local, regional, state, and federal, or find a contractor.
• Find budget-friendly financing solutions on the state's GoGreen Financing website.
• You can also go straight to your utility's website to find incentives:
  • SMUD website has incentives of up to $3,000 for heat pump HVAC, $4,000 for heat pump water heaters, and other incentives for thermostats, induction cooktops, and more. SMUD also offers rebates for air sealing your home and ducts since leaky ducts can account for 20% or more of your home’s energy losses.

Be sure to make your home energy efficient before installing at-home solar power and battery storage systems. This will help you determine how many solar panels you’ll need for maximum cost- and energy savings. Check your utility's website for solar and battery installation incentives:

• SMUD website
• PGE website

Even if you can’t install new appliances, you can still use energy more efficiently. Here are some energy-saving tips:

• In the summer, you can save around 5-10% on cooling costs for every two degrees you raise the thermostat. Set your thermostat to 78 degrees in summer (or 85 degrees when away from home) and 68 degrees in non-summer months to reduce energy use and save money. 
• Close the blinds to keep out heat.
• Use a fan instead of AC.
• Turn off lights and appliances when not in use.
• Run laundry and dishwashers after 8 p.m. or before 5 p.m. when electricity is cheaper.
• Find other tips at the Energy Upgrade California website.

Are you unsure of what items can be recycled or put in the organics cart? Use the Sacramento County Waste Management and Recycling website to search for how to dispose of each waste type. 

•  Get a free kitchen pail to collect food scraps and food-soiled paper to place with your yard trimmings in your organics cart! Visit the Sacramento County waste website to learn where to pick up a free 2-gallon pail.

• View the backyard composting website to learn how you can participate in backyard composting. Join a free Compost & Climate webinar to learn how to compost and to be eligible for a free GeoBin compost bin.

In the US, 30-40% of food is wasted each year. Food banks such as Sacramento Food Bank and Family Services (SFBFS) deliver free food throughout the county and reduce landfill emissions. Donate, volunteer, or find food using the SFBFS website.

Shop at a Farmers’ Market to buy fresh local produce and support Sacramento-area farmers. Use the Alchemist website to find a certified farmers’ market near you. 

SMUD customers can get up to 10 free trees that provide shade AND clean the air. Sign up for a free tree or shrub siting consultation and have them delivered through the Sacramento Tree Foundation website.

Enjoy Sacramento County’s Regional Parks and Open Space including the American River Parkway and Deer Creek Hills. Learn more about what Sacramento has to offer on the​ ​Regional Parks website.

Did you know there are more than 20 different water providers serving Sacramento County? Do you know who provides your home with water?  If you live in Sacramento County, you are likely served by the Sacramento County Water Agency. You can check who your provider is by going to the SCWA website, click on Find My Water Company, then type in your address. Once you find your water agency, find out if you can apply for rebates! 

• Sacramento County Water Agency offers rebates for efficient washing machines, toilets, and even installation of a rain garden! Visit Sacramento County Water Agency for more information.

Visit the Be Water Smart website for tips on saving water, rebates for indoor and outdoor water fixtures, and landscape watering guidelines. Schedule a free Water Wise House Call to check for leaks and get personalized water saving tips for your home. Be sure to buy products with WaterSense labels!

Visit the Sacramento Ready website to help prepare yourself and your home for future hazards. Learn how to prepare an emergency kit and communications plan.

Sign up for the Emergency Alert program to be alerted about emergencies and other important community news. This system provides you with critical information quickly in a variety of situations, such as severe weather, unexpected road closures, missing persons, and evacuations of buildings or neighborhoods. You will receive time-sensitive messages wherever you specify, such as your home, mobile or business phones, email address, text messages, and more. 

Heat is one of the most dangerous climate hazards in the region. On an extreme heat day, access or promote the use of a public cooling center, like a library or community center, to stay cool and save energy at home. For cooling center locations call 2-1-1 or use the 211 website.

Just a few inches of water in a building can cause tens of thousands of dollars in damage. Make an informed decision about the flood risks you face before deciding not to purchase flood insurance.

• Sign up for a free online NorCal GO account to connect with transit, carpool/vanpool, biking, or walking options for any trip and win gift cards by logging non-car trips.
• Visit the Sacramento Area Bicycle Advocates (SABA) website or Sacramento Bicycle Kitchen website to learn how to ride a bike, buy a used bike, repair your bike, and other biking events. The SABA website also has a list of apps and tools you can use to plan your bike trips.
• Purchase a Connect Card to ride transit (buses, light rail, shuttles, etc.) across multiple transit agencies in the region including Sacramento Regional Transit, El Dorado Transit, Etran, Folsom Stage Line, Placer County Transit, Roseville Transit, SCT/Link, Yolobus, and Yuba-Sutter Transit.
• Sacramento Regional Transit is the main transit operator in Sacramento County - check out their website for more info on how to pay fares or plan trips! SacRT also offers the following:
  • SacRT Flex is a curb-to-curb shared shuttle service for qualified riders, including seniors (age 62+), low-income individuals, and persons with disabilities. Fare is only $2.50/trip!
  • SacRT GO Paratransit is a door-to-door shared ride ADA-complaint transportation service for those that can’t use the SacRT bus and light rail. The service takes reservations, fare is $5/trip, and personal care attendants ride free.

• Driving an electric vehicle (EV) can fully reduce your transportation emissions if powered by clean electricity sources. Even without clean electricity, EVs can still cut transportation emissions by half or more.  Find EV incentives through your local utility or look for state or federal incentives:
  •   SMUD Website Incentives:
    • Register your EV with SMUD to receive a discount on your electricity bill
    • Call one of SMUD's EV Advisors for help
  • PGE Website Incentives:
    • When purchasing or leasing a pre-owned EV, receive up to $1,000 in rebates, with income-qualified applicants receiving up to $4,000
  • CleanCars4All EV purchasing rebate allows income-eligible customers to get up to $12,000 toward the purchase of a new or used EV, up to $2,000 toward charging equipment, or up to $7,500 for an electric bike.
  • Find more incentives at the CARB DriveClean webpage. 
• Find public EV chargers using the PlugShare website or the app.

Transportation Management Associations (TMAs) are independent, non-profit membership associations, representing employers and helping commuters find alternatives to driving alone to work. TMAs offer benefits such as free transit passes, carpool matching, or guaranteed rides home. In Sacramento County, there is ​the 50 Corridor TMA and North Natomas Jibe. Ask your workplace if they participate in a TMA program or look at the TMA website to see if your community can use TMA benefits.

Even if you can’t install new appliances, you can still use energy more efficiently. Here are some energy-saving tips:

• In the summer, you can save around 5-10% on cooling costs for every two degrees you raise the thermostat. Set your thermostat to 78 degrees in summer (or 85 degrees when away from home) and 68 degrees in non-summer months to reduce energy use and save money. 
• Close the blinds to keep out heat.
• Use a fan instead of AC.
• Turn off lights and appliances when not in use.
• Run laundry and dishwashers after 8 p.m. or before 5 p.m. when electricity is cheaper.
• Find other tips at the Energy Upgrade California website.

Are you unsure of what items can be recycled or put in the organics cart? Use the Sacramento County Waste Management and Recycling website to search for how to dispose of each waste type. 

Are you unsure of what items can be recycled or put in the organics cart? Use the Sacramento County Waste Management and Recycling website to search for how to dispose of each waste type. 

In the US, 30-40% of food is wasted each year. Food banks such as Sacramento Food Bank and Family Services (SFBFS) deliver free food throughout the county and reduce landfill emissions. Donate, volunteer, or find food using the SFBFS website.

Shop at a Farmers’ Market to buy fresh local produce and support Sacramento-area farmers. Use the Alchemist website to find a certified farmers’ market near you. 

Enjoy Sacramento County’s Regional Parks and Open Space including the American River Parkway and Deer Creek Hills. Learn more about what Sacramento has to offer on the​ ​Regional Parks website.

Visit the Sacramento Ready website to help prepare yourself and your home for future hazards. Learn how to prepare an emergency kit and communications plan.

Sign up for the Emergency Alert program to be alerted about emergencies and other important community news. This system provides you with critical information quickly in a variety of situations, such as severe weather, unexpected road closures, missing persons, and evacuations of buildings or neighborhoods. You will receive time-sensitive messages wherever you specify, such as your home, mobile or business phones, email address, text messages, and more. 

Heat is one of the most dangerous climate hazards in the region. On an extreme heat day, access or promote the use of a public cooling center, like a library or community center, to stay cool and save energy at home. For cooling center locations call 2-1-1 or use the 211 website.

Cars produce the most emissions in Sacramento County. Instead of asking for a ride for your next trip, try to walk, bike, or roll around:

• Plan your route using  NorCal GO (you must be 13 and up to make an account) or use the Sacramento Area Bicycle Advocates (SABA) website under the “Maps” tab to find a list of other bike trip planning apps and tools.
• Learn how to ride a bike, repair your bike, or purchase a bike with the Sacramento Area Bicycle Advocates (SABA) or Sacramento Bicycle Kitchen.
• If you are under 18, get a free used bike from Sacramento Bicycle Kitchen.
• Remember to wear a helmet! 

Sacramento-area youth grades TK-12 can get a RydeFreeRT card to ride all SacRT buses and light rail for FREE. Cards are given out by your school before summer break, at Sacramento Public Libraries, or the SacRT Customer Service Center. Grab one with a friend and make your first bus or rail trip together!

 Before you leave the house, try to:

• Turn off lights and appliances
• Close the blinds to keep heat out
• Turn down the heating/cooling (ask an adult how)

Also, ask an adult to set your thermostat to 78 degrees in summer and 68 degrees in non-summer months.

Tossing food scraps and food-soiled paper in the garbage creates landfill gas that is unhealthy for our air and planet. You can help by remembering to sort smart and recycle right! Use the:

• Organics cart for food scraps, food-soiled paper, and yard trimmings (no animal waste). This waste becomes compost that helps plants grow!
• Recycling cart for glass bottles & jars, plastic bottles & containers, metal cans, and clean paper/flattened cardboard. Recyclables must be empty and dry. Lids and labels are okay. Do not bag recyclables. These recyclables are used to make new products!
• Household hazardous waste free drop-off locations for things like batteries, paint, and cleaners – these items do not belong in any curbside cart as they are toxic.

Use the Sacramento County Waste Management and Recycling website to search how to get rid of each type of waste.

Save water and protect waterways by:

• Shutting off water when brushing teeth
• Taking shorter showers
• Reporting leaks in your house or at school
• Throwing trash into a bin to keep litter out of waterways
• Asking an adult to only run the dishwasher or clothes washer when they are full

Talk to a friend or family member about trying one of these sustainable actions together.