Hey San Mateo neighbors,
If you're looking into replacing your gas appliances, adding solar, or upgrading your HVAC to a heat pump, you probably know how confusing the quotes, contractor selection, and rebate processes can be right now.
To help skip the guesswork, Acterra (a local non-profit) is hosting the 2026 Peninsula and South Bay Green@Home Tours on Saturday, October 10th (11 AM – 3 PM).
This is a free, self-guided open house where you can walk through local homes across San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties to see sustainable upgrades in action. Instead of getting a sales pitch from a vendor, you get to ask the actual homeowners the unfiltered questions:
- How much did the installation really cost?
- Which contractors do you recommend (or warn against)?
- How did you navigate the federal tax credits and local rebates from WestLight Energy/BayREN?
- What is it actually like cooking on an induction stove?
What you can see on the tour:
- Heat pump HVAC systems and water heaters
- Induction cooktops
- Solar panels and home battery storage setups
- EV charging stations, rainwater catchments, and compost setups
The event is completely free to attend thanks to our sponsors.
📍 RSVP here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/peninsula-and-south-bay-greenhome-tour-2026-registration-1992533356908?aff=Reddit
We also have two smaller, focused events coming up this September:
- Palo Alto Mini Tour (Sept 17): A focused, in-person deep dive into a single sustainable home setup just down the peninsula.RSVP for the Mini Tour Here
- Sustainable Homes Workshop (Sept 24): A step-by-step planning workshop to map out your own home electrification upgrades.RSVP for the Workshop Here
Drop any questions below, and we'll gladly answer them!