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Sustainability Resource Guide

The City of Walnut Creek's Sustainability Resource Guide provides a collection of tools and incentives for residents looking to make environmentally friendly choices. Whether you're interested in saving money on energy, making sustainable transportation choices, or finding out how to reduce and properly dispose of waste, this guide is designed to help you make informed decisions for a more sustainable future. While this information is scattered across the website, the guide makes it easy to find everything you need—from saving energy and choosing sustainable transportation to reducing waste and proper disposal.

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Financial Incentives/ Energy Efficiency 

  • Discover potential savings on environmentally friendly upgrades like electric appliances, EVs, and solar panels with MCE’s Residential Rebate & Incentive Finder, which also offers additional incentives for income-qualifying households.

  • If you're considering getting an induction cooktop because of the health, safety, time-saving, or climate benefits and want to try one out,PG&E offers an induction cooktop lending program! PG&E will ship a small induction cooktop directly to your home so that you can try it out for 2 weeks.

  • California Energy Smart Homes offers up to $5,500 to homeowners who convert all gas appliances to efficient electric systems.

  • TECH Clean California is funded by the California Public Utilities Commission and offers up to $1,000 for a heat pump heating and air conditioning unit and up to $10,385 for a heat pump water heater. For more information visit: 

  • Residents who are not MCE customers and are PG&E customers are eligible to participate in PG&E's Net Energy Metering (NEM) program at  which returns money to customers for any excess electricity that they produce. 

  • MCE offers a free energy audit and home energy upgrades program to increase comfort and reduce energy bills for income-qualified residents.

  • The statewide Energy Savings Assistance Program provides free insulation upgrades, weatherproofing upgrades, water heater and furnace replacements, and other upgrades that save energy to income-qualified residents.

 

Transportation and Electric Vehicles:  

  • Considering purchasing an electric car? PG&E has an EV Savings Calculator to estimate and compare costs, savings, EV incentives, and more. 

  • Already have an EV and looking for decreased electricity costs? MCE’s Residential EV Rate Plan can lower your electricity costs if you charge during off-peak times of the day when rates are lower.  

 

Reducing Waste: 

  • Nutritious, safe, and untouched food can be donated to food banks to help those in need.

  • If you have a fruit tree that produces more fruit than you can use, consider registering with Contra Costa Fruit Rescue, a local nonprofit, so that their volunteers can harvest your fruit and donate it to a local food bank to feed people.

  • Consider volunteering with local food banks, food rescue organizations such as Contra Costa Fruit Rescue, and organizations that provide safety net services for vulnerable populations. These organizations can always use some extra help in order to provide food to as many people as possible.

  • Looking to donate food and ensure it doesn’t go to waste? White Pony Express picks up high-quality unsold food and delivers it to over eighty organizations seven days a week.

  • To donate quality items including clothing, books, or toys to those in need, visit White Pony Express to schedule an appointment. 

 

Disposing of Waste:  

  • Medical Sharps and Medication Disposal:  Between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, residents can come to Walnut Creek City Hall, located at 1666 North Main Street, to dispose of their unused or expired medications and medical sharps for free. For more information, contact Walnut Creek City Hall staff at (925) 943-5899. 

  • Find businesses and organizations for Reuse, Repair, and Recycling through the RE:Source tool.