code red for humanity: webinars and resources

learn how electrification helps create healthy communities

code-red-2024-banner-event

Whether you are a community leader, an organization, or a resident, you can support the movement for electric buildings, clean air, and healthy communities. Since its launch in January 2022, the "Code Red for Humanity" webinar series communicates the need to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions through local action, while giving decision makers and community members alike the creative and innovative tools to make progress. The webinar series, hosted by Acterra, is a collaborative effort created by volunteers from around the Bay Area and was the brainchild of the Climate Action Leadership Team. Beyond the webinars, please use this page to find resources to help your community take the next step in your electrification journey. 

Why "Code Red?" UN Secretary-General António Guterres drew international attention to the climate crisis by referring to the 2021 International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) 6th Asssessment Report as a “code red for humanity” — a stark warning that we must work together to “avert climate catastrophe.” 

FIND ACTIONS to fit your role 

Policy Makers
City Staff
Individuals

2024 CODE RED WEBINAR

On May 9, Acterra and collaborators hosted the webinar "Code Red for Humanity: Clean Air, Healthy Bay Area" to support local and regional governments in preparation for the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD)'s clean air rules. The 90-minute event featured Stanford professor Mark Jacobson (keynote), BAAQMD Board Chair Davina Hurt (emcee), and a range of expert speakers discussing public outreach, workforce development, and permit streamlining. Learn how you can smooth the transition in your city or county to more efficient space and water heating appliances for better health. The recording is now available – click the link below. Watch this space for more webinar-related information including the links from the chat and the collected Q&A.

cosponsors of Code Red 2024
Watch the recording
Access slide decks
Q&A summary and more

Watch "Pathways to Healthy Electric Cities"

Many cities in the San Francisco Bay Area are already implementing innovative electrification policies and programs to reduce building emissions and improve health. Learn from community leaders as they discuss equity considerations and new funding sources to speed the transition to an all-electric future. This video (2023) is a sequel to the original "Code Red" webinar.

Watch Now

Watch "Code Red for Humanity: What Municipalities Can Do"

Learn foundational insights from science and policy leaders including Dr. Saul Griffith, State Senator Josh Becker, and others on the science of climate change impacts, what it means to "electrify everything," and what it takes to pass local policies to help cities to meet their climate goals. This is the first video in the series (2022).

Watch Now

Actions for policy makers

Targeted Actions for Elected Officials - Mayors, City Council Members, County Supervisors

Take the Pledge

Join a growing number of Bay Area mayors and municipal leaders in taking the Rewiring America Electrification Pledge.

Learn More

Support Passage of a “Reach Code” for Existing Buildings

Join San Mateo, Portola Valley, Palo Alto, and others in adopting a “Reach Code” that imposes requirements to electrify appliances in existing buildings in particular circumstances. Review the Bay Area Reach Codes Group’s Model Code for existing buildings that includes a menu of code options. 

Review the Model Code

Adopt a Bold “Zero Carbon by 2030” Target

Join Menlo Park and San Jose in setting a “Zero Carbon by 2030” target. Include the target in your Climate Action Plan like Menlo Park did or pass a resolution as San Jose did.

Set an End Date for Natural Gas Flow in your City

Follow Half Moon Bay’s lead by setting an end date for gas service in your city. Half Moon Bay’s ordinance included a provision to terminate gas service to the city by 2045.

See Half Moon Bay's Ordinance

Learn more actions to support zero-pollution appliances

A Toolbox for Transitioning to Zero-Pollution Equipment was prepared by SPUR, Acterra, and others in the Bay Area Clean Air Coalition to help policymakers and advocacy groups identify ways they can help Bay Area residents, and residents in other jurisdictions, transition off of gas heating in buildings. It contains five strategies and thirty actions to move the ball forward toward 100% zero-pollution appliances.

Read the Toolbox
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    Green @ Home
    Virtual

    Innovation and Progress in Concentrating Solar Power

    Event information, a sentence or two about what you can expect or why this event is happening.

    Thursday, May 18
    12 Noon PDT
    Learn More
    Public Lecture
    Virtual

    Innovation and Progress in Concentrating Solar Power

    Event information, a sentence or two about what you can expect or why this event is happening.

    Thursday, May 18
    12 Noon PDT
    Learn More
    Green @ Home
    Virtual

    Innovation and Progress in Concentrating Solar Power

    Event information, a sentence or two about what you can expect or why this event is happening.

    Thursday, May 18
    12 Noon PDT
    Learn More
    Looking for funding and tax savings for electrification of existing buildings? Review provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act to learn more and consult Rewiring America’s IRA Savings Calculator.

    Actions for Municipal Officials and Staff

    • Partner with Community Choice Aggregators: Offer no-cost on-bill financing options (e.g., on-bill financing), and/or to offer fixed-price heat pump water and space heating installations / concierge service to income-qualified households.

    • Community Outreach on Electrification: Promote the benefits of an all-electric lifestyle and why it is important. Create ‘try before you buy’ options, such as induction cooktop loaners, EV Ride & Drives or Expo events, and e-bike and e-scooter trials. 

    • Plan for Rapid Electrification of Municipal Buildings and Fleets: Plan to convert all municipal equipment using fossil fuels to electric, both in your buildings and your fleet. Plan for installation of new EV chargers to service the municipal vehicle fleet. Pre-wire your buildings to support the electrification of heating and water heating equipment as it fails. Be sure your plans include equipment that may be less common but nevertheless produces significant emissions, such as gas pool heaters.

    • Remove Permitting Barriers to Electrification: Evaluate your permitting process for heat pump HVAC systems and water heaters. Can a building owner acquire a heat pump water heater permit quickly and easily, if their gas water heater fails unexpectedly? Given the climate benefits and clear safety and health advantages of removing highly flammable chemical fuels like natural gas from homes, consider incentivizing building owners to make the switch by lowering permit fees or providing fast track service for gas-to-electric appliance conversions.

    • Prepare Your Community for Climate Change: Take every opportunity to educate yourself and speak frankly with elected officials and the public about direct climate change impacts on your city such as drought, extreme temperatures, wildfire, flooding and sea level rise. Present concrete plans to address these impacts and begin advocating for adequate budgets and staffing levels to cut greenhouse gas emissions in your city.

    • Provide Access to EV Charging: Write building codes that require 100% of new apartment and condo units with parking to be EV Ready (with wiring, breaker and receptacle pre-installed), which avoids costly retrofits. Read this article in Grist to see why access to affordable EV charging at home is so important for equity. 

    Residents: Here's what you can do to support electrification.

    Actions for Individuals

    • Ask Your City Council to Make Climate a Priority in 2023 Today: Use one of our sample letters to tell your elected officials you want them to make climate a top priority this year — and share your act on social media. 
    • Create a Plan to Electrify Your Home and Transportation: Find out how to access savings for home electrification through the IRA and at your local level. Check out the benefits of electrification retrofits. These upgrades will reduce the carbon emissions of your home and transportation (plus most of these are healthier for people and save money over their lifetime of use). Here are some suggested steps:
      • Convert your gas water heater and furnace to heat pumps that run on clean, renewable electricity.  
      • How old is your hot water heater? They last typically 10 - 15 years.  Be ready with an electrification plan before it fails. Some utilities may offer a temporary loan to bridge the period of failure.
      • Get a two-way heat pump that cools in the summer and warms in the winter.
      • Trade your gas car for an electric vehicle and take more of your trips by bike, scooter, walking and transit. Or embrace a car-free lifestyle.
      • Replace your gas stove with an induction stove. Some cities have loaners you can check out from the library. 
    • Contact Your Landlord to Discuss a Building Retrofit: If you rent, consider speaking with your landlord about the possibility of electrifying your building and installing EV chargers for all residents.
    • Press Your City to Take Bold Climate Action: Attend a city council meeting and ask your elected officials to take urgent action to address climate change. Your city council needs to hear from you and others that they have broad public support. Every comment by a concerned resident matters.
    • Advocate for Equitable Building Codes: Write to representatives for your city, county and state demanding 100% of new apartment and condo units with parking be EV Ready (with wiring, breaker and receptacle pre-installed). 
    • Install or Switch to Renewable Energy: Sign up for 100% renewable electricity through your local utility or Community Choice Energy provider or consider installing your own rooftop solar system and take advantage of 30% federal tax credits.
    USEFUL LINKS

    Videos:

    Readings:

    Electrify Now:

    Questions? Get in touch with us. Email info@acterra.org with the Subject Header "Code Red"