August is Make-A-Will Month — and this year, it carries special meaning for everyone at Acterra.

We recently received the largest gift in our 56-year history: a transformational unrestricted estate gift from James (Jim) Guthrie, a Bay Area architect who was born in Los Angeles in 1948, studied at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, and spent his life building things — structures, friendships, and a quiet legacy of generosity.

Jim loved classic cars. He had seven at the time of his passing, each one a piece of history he had chosen to preserve. He played golf weekly with neighbors and friends. He had a big smile and a welcoming spirit that people remembered long after they met him. He was, by all accounts, a generous man with a big heart.

Somewhere along the way, Jim decided that a healthy planet was worth investing in — not just during his lifetime, but beyond it. He included Acterra in his estate plans, and this June we received the result of that quiet, generous decision.

We didn't know Jim well. That's often how planned gifts work — someone watches from a distance, decides they believe in what you're doing, and acts on that belief in the most permanent way they can. We are humbled and grateful.

This gift will shape Acterra's work for years to come. Our FY2027–2030 Strategic Plan sets ambitious goals: diversify our revenue, build operational infrastructure, grow our financial reserves, and deepen our work in frontline communities. Jim's gift moves us meaningfully toward all of them — at once.

Here's how we're investing it:

- A portion is going into Acterra's endowment — building the permanent, compounding foundation that will support this organization long after any of us are here.

- A portion is going into rolling CDs — a conservative, accessible investment that generates modest returns while keeping funds available as we grow.

- A portion is going into operating reserves — giving us the cash cushion to bridge contract payment gaps, respond to opportunities without scrambling, and make decisions from a place of stability rather than scarcity.

For a 56-year-old organization that has spent much of its mission working contract to contract, this is a turning point. It doesn't solve every challenge. But it changes the conditions under which we do our work.

If you've ever thought about including a cause you love in your own estate plans, August is the moment to act on that intention. It doesn't require great wealth — just the decision to say, in writing, what matters to you.

Jim knew what mattered to him. And we are forever changed by it.

Rest in peace, Jim. 30 August 1948 – 28 August 2025.

Learn more about planned giving at acterra.org/donar.

What does it really take to turn a home into an all-electric, low-carbon household? For our  Recorrido por Marin Green@Home (happening on August 29th, 11 AM - 3 PM) host Fabrice Florin and his wife, Phyllis, the answer wasn’t to do everything at once. Their electrification journey began in 2019 with a simple goal: replace fossil fuels with clean electricity — one step at a time.

“As long-time environmentalists, we take climate change seriously,” Fabrice says. “To help cool the earth, we decided to do our part by replacing fossil fuels with clean electricity in our lives — one appliance at a time.”

Over the next six years, that commitment transformed their home. They switched to 100% renewable electricity, purchased an EV and e-bike, installed solar panels and a home battery, and replaced their gas water heater, furnace, stove, and laundry appliances with electric alternatives. In 2024, they took the final step and turned off their gas service completely.

“By electrifying our home, we reduced our carbon emissions by 75%, in just six years!” Fabrice says. “We also lowered our energy bills and are well on our way to reaching a carbon-neutral lifestyle in the next few years.”

“My daily ebike rides have made me healthier and happier,” he says. “I get a lot more exercise, and riding in the beautiful hills of my beloved Marin Headlands have deepened my connection to nature and my own peace of mind.”

Start small, then keep going

Fabrice’s advice for homeowners who feel overwhelmed by the idea of going green? Start with something simple.

“Start with a few small actions that are easy to take and don’t cost a lot,” he recommends, pointing to LED lighting and renewable electricity as two accessible first steps. From there, homeowners can gradually take on larger projects, such as installing heat pumps, solar panels, batteries, or electric appliances.

“Once you see how simple it is to live sustainably, you will be inspired to take bigger actions,” he says. “Greening up your home is a lifelong journey!”

That philosophy is at the heart of why Fabrice and Phyllis are opening their doors for this year’s Marin Green@Home Tour. Rather than simply showcasing the finished result, they want visitors to see how their home evolved over time — and learn that electrification doesn’t have to happen all at once.

“Giving tours of our all-electric home is a great way to show people how they too can save money, save energy and reduce their carbon emissions in just a few years,” Fabrice says. “By seeing how we electrified our home one step at a time, without breaking the bank, visitors can get the confidence and knowledge they need to do the same in their own lives.”

Want to see what an all-electric home looks like in real life? Join us for the Recorrido por Marin Green@Home en Saturday, August 29, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Visit Fabrice and Phyllis’s home and explore the technologies and everyday choices that helped them create a cleaner, more efficient home — one step at a time.|

Photos by Fabrice Florin, courtesy of GreenChange.net.

Want to Be Part of the Tour?

Interested in sharing your own electrification journey? If you’ve upgraded your home with electric appliances, solar panels, battery storage, energy-efficient improvements, or other sustainable solutions, Acterra is looking for homeowners to join the 2026 Peninsula and South Bay Green@Home Tour as hosts.

Opening your home gives neighbors an opportunity to see these solutions in real life and learn from your experience. You can share what inspired your upgrades, what you’ve learned along the way, and the rebates, incentives, contractors, or resources that helped make your projects possible.

If you are interested in participating as a host, please complete the application form at https://bit.ly/tour-host-form-2026

The City of Menlo Park, in partnership with Acterra, is making electric vehicles more affordable for eligible residents. Qualified applicants can receive a $2,000 rebate toward the purchase or lease of a new or used EV.

The rebate can also be combined with other available incentives, including the state’s $3,500 MyFirstEV rebate.

Funding is limited, so eligible residents are encouraged to apply soon.

También puedes unirte a la Círculo de Acción Climática - La comunidad de donantes mensuales de Acterra: apoye la acción climática en curso con una donación recurrente a partir de tan solo 5 dólares al mes.