In This Section
"Storm Drains flow directly to creeks and the Bay without treatment. Motor oil, paint products, pet wastes, and garden chemicals are washed into neighborhood Gutters and Storm Drains by rain and other runoff becoming the leading cause of water pollution in the San Francisco Bay. Please try to keep Storm Drains clear of leaves to prevent stoppage, and flooding in the streets during the fall and winter seasons. Never pour anything into a Gutter or Storm Drain. Visit www.mywatershedwatch.org to find more information abouturban runoff pollution prevention and how to protect our watersheds.
For Flood Prevention and Tips, go to Santa Clara Valley Water District. To report Flooding, due to Creeks within Santa Clara County, contact the Santa Clara Valley Water District at 408.265.2600 ext. 2378. To report Hazardous Spills or Illegal Dumping in Creeks within Santa Clara County, contact the Santa Clara Valley Water District at 800.510.5151. For flooding in City streets during normal business hours, contact the Street Department at 408.777.3275 or 408.777.3269. After "normal" office hours and weekends, please call County Communications at 408.299.2507. For sandbag requests for Flood Prevention within Santa Clara County, go to Santa Clara Valley Water District (SCVWD), or call SCVWD at 888.439.6624. A limited number of filled sandbags are available at the Service Yard located at 10555 Mary Ave.
The City owns, maintains, and operates over 4,300 manholes, catch basins, and outfalls, as well as over 90 linear miles of pipes. Rainwater flows from buildings, parking lots, sidewalks, and other impervious surfaces onto our City streets and into these catch basins, through these pipes, and eventually into our creeks, the Bay and the ocean. Various factors, such as clogged catch basins or pipes that do not adequately convey standard rainwater flow, cause flooding in various areas throughout the City, making it difficult for pedestrians, bicycles, motorcycles, cars, and emergency vehicles to navigate. This program performs operations and proactive maintenance, both before and after storms, to keep the system running smoothly and to prevent local flooding. In addition, trash, such as plastics, cigarette butts, and other non-biodegradable products, gets swept into the drainage system with storm water runoff, and drains directly into our local creeks and the Bay. Chemical and bacterial contaminants such as fertilizer, pesticides, and animal waste are also spread through, and pollute, this untreated runoff. The City of Cupertino provides street sweeping services and installs and maintains trash-capture devices in select drainage areas in order to minimize the amount of trash and pollutants flowing through our storm drainage system, thereby enhancing the cleanliness of the water in our local waterways.
The City receives approximately 7% of the total property taxes collected on property located within the City. These revenues, along with sales tax revenues contribute to the general fund. As the Clean Water and Storm Protection program is currently operating at a deficit, your property and sales taxes are funding the general fund to make up the difference. In doing so, your taxes are being used not only for clean water and storm protection on your property, but also on the properties of others. Establishing a new property related fee to achieve cost recovery creates a means to ensure each property owner pays only for the benefit received, and does not subsidize another property owner’s benefit.
As described in the question above, the general fund is partially funded by both parcel and sales tax revenues. Currently, these revenues are being used to fund the Clean Water and Storm Protection Programs and every Cupertino resident is helping to pay for these programs not only for their parcel(s) of properties but also for the parcel(s) of others. Continued use of the general fund for these purposes will cause public improvements to facilities such as parks, streets and other publicly used assets to be either reduced, delayed or not funded. Establishing a new fee to achieve cost recovery creates a means to ensure each parcel pays only for the benefit received, and does not subsidize another parcel. As the general fund would no longer be subsidizing clean water and storm protection costs, other public assets would benefit.
The new fee is based on the amount of impervious surface on your type of property. The fee for your property (or for each of your properties if you own more than one) was printed on the ballot you received through the mail in May. The fees are outlined in the table below:
No. You will continue to pay your existing fee ($12 per year for residential). The new 2019 Clean Water and Storm Protection Fee will be in addition to what you are currently paying. If the City had proposed an increase of the current $12 fee to $56 per year, the City would have risked the fee being voted down altogether, and could have lost the $12 fee from 1992 which is currently covering a portion of the cost to provide clean water and infrastructure maintenance that prevents property flooding.
As stated above, the fee for a single family home on an average size lot will be $44.42 per year. This is in addition to the $12 per year currently paid or a total of $56.42 per year for the first year. This rate compares favorably to the rates in other Bay Area cities, which are about $150 in Burlingame, $164 in Palo Alto, $92 in San Jose, and $109 in Santa Cruz. Some cities, such as Sunnyvale, do not charge a stormwater related fee and instead charge all costs to their general fund.
Until 2010, the revenues received from the fee established in 1992 were almost enough to pay for operations and maintenance, with only a small amount needed each year from the general fund. Since then, as Federal clean water requirements and other costs grew, the amount required from the general fund has continued to grow. Currently the general fund contribution far exceeds the amount of revenue generated by the existing fee. The City attempts to keep rates for property owners as low as possible. We proposed this fee increase because the storm water program is at a critical point and requires a fee increase to maintain and enhance preventative maintenance and to provide better clean water programs.
Yes, the fee will allow for program enhancements. These may include use of newer, more effective and eco-friendly street sweeping vehicles, increased proactive maintenance and inspection of aging infrastructure to prevent costly repairs in the future, and enhancements to environmental education programs currently provided to 3rd graders.
Owners of property in the City of Cupertino which will be charged the new fee received one vote, for each such parcel, on the proposed 2019 Clean Water and Storm Protection measure.
Ballots were mailed to property owners around May 20, 2019 and ballots had to be received at City Hall by July 5, 2019 at 5:00 pm in order for a vote to be counted. Post marks did not count. Property owners that chose to mail in your ballot were encouraged to mail it a week early to allow time for delivery.
City Council directed staff to develop rebates for low-income households. This provision is scheduled to be considered at the City Council Meeting on August 20, 2019.
After the close of the balloting period on July 5, the ballots were tabulated and the results were announced at the July 16, 2019 City Council Meeting. City Council enacted Ordinance No. 19-2183 establishing the Clean Water and Storm Protection Fee.
Transparency is important to the City Council. The funds from this new fee will be accounted for separately in an account dedicated to clean water and storm protection services. By law, the revenue from this fee cannot be taken by the County or State, and cannot be used by the City for any other purpose. The City strives continuously to find the most cost-effective ways to achieve the goals of this program. The expenditures for this program will be audited annually, and will be subject to an annual review by a citizens’ oversight committee. The city has also established program performance measures to ensure the Clean Water and Storm Protection program is achieving desired goals.
The storm drainage system, intended for flood control, directs rainwater runoff from streets, roofs, sidewalks, etc. into our creeks, Bay and ocean. The storm drainage system provides no water treatment prior to discharge, unless the inlet is fitted with a trash full capture device. The sanitary sewer system transports sanitary waste water from toilets, sinks, baths, showers, industrial processes, etc. to a water treatment facility and final discharge to the San Francisco Bay. The City of Cupertino owns and operates the storm drainage system and does not own or operate a sanitary sewer system. The Cupertino Sanitary District provides sanity sewer services to the majority of parcels in the City.
This new fee is needed to sustain the clean stormwater program and improve basic operations and maintenance of the storm protection system. The City will address how to pay for needed capital improvements in the future. This fee will free approximately $800,000 of general fund revenues for public use, which may include stormwater infrastructure improvements.
The current fee covers only a small portion of the clean water and storm protection operations and maintenance expenses in the City. If the new fee had not passed, the level of service for operation and maintenance may have been reduced. As costs continue to rise this program would have competed against other priorities, such as public safety, parks, and roads, for general fund dollars. The impacts of these reductions could have resulted in more costly reactive repairs, streets being subjected to flooding, slower response times for staff to clear blocked inlets and pipes, increased litter on the streets, and more trash and pollutants in our creeks and the Bay.
Proposition 218, the "Taxpayers Right to Vote on Taxes Act," which was written by the Howard Jarvis Taxpayer's Association and approved by voters in 1996 as an amendment to the California Constitution, requires a mailed ballot proceeding any proposed new or increased Fee. This ballot proceeding is being conducted according to the requirements established by Proposition 218. A ballot and ballot guide were mailed to all property owners who must pay the Clean Water and Storm Protection Fee.
To fund the maintenance of its clean water and storm protection infrastructure, the City has relied on its 1992 storm drainage fee. This funding source cannot be adjusted for inflation, and it has not been increased since it was implemented over 25 years ago. As a result, the revenue it provides has not kept pace with increasing costs and regulatory standards, and the City's stormwater fund has been operating at a deficit since 2013. To provide sufficient funding for the operations and maintenance to this critical component of our local infrastructure, the City proposed this balloted and specially dedicated funding source.
The law does not allow exemptions for seniors or for other purposes. They must pay their proportionate share of the clean water and storm protection costs just like they pay their water, sewer, and garbage bills. The only parcels that will not be assessed the Clean Water and Storm Protection Fee are those the engineers have determined do not contribute stormwater runoff into the City's storm drainage system. However, the City Council directed staff to develop a rebate program for low-income households which will be funded by separate revenues.
This measure is a property-related fee, rather than a tax, as defined by Proposition 218, which was written by the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association and approved by voters. Because it is a property-related fee, it was voted on by property owners rather than registered voters, and it required a majority (over 50%) of the votes cast to pass. The fee will appear as a line item on the annual property tax bill for all affected properties in 2019/20 tax year.
In an effort to reduce the financial impact this fee may have on low-income property owners, the City Council is offering a 20% cost-share program. Qualifying low-income property owners may apply for the cost-share program using an online form at Cupertino.gov/watercostshare.
Yes, they are. The rates are based on how much impervious surface your property contains. Impervious surfaces are those which don’t absorb rainwater such as rooftops, driveways and sidewalks. The rate for all property categories ends up being approximately $475 per acre of impervious surface. For a typical residential parcel of 0.17 acre (about 7,405 square feet) with 55% of its surface being impervious, that works out to a $44.42 annual fee. For a commercial property of ten acres with 85% of its surface being impervious, that works out to a $4,038 fee. More details about the amount of imperviousness for each rate category and other attributes can be found in the Fee Report.
The Clean Water and Storm Protection Fee includes strong fiscal safeguards and multiple layers of accountability to ensure that all the funds are used only for the stated purposes. Steps to assure accountability and fiscal control include:
Property owners returned their ballots in either of the following ways:
To be counted, ballots had to be received by 5:00pm on July 5, 2019. This deadline applied regardless of whether the ballot was mailed or hand delivered.
The City adopted procedures consistent with Proposition 218, which specifically state that in order to count, the ballots must be completed and signed by the record property owner of the parcel(s) identified on this ballot or by the owner’s authorized representative and must be received by the Ballot Tabulator before the designated time. Unsigned ballots cannot be counted.
Yes. Under the rules of Proposition 218, this funding measure was voted on by property owners, not registered voters. Therefore, you did not need to be registered to vote in order to vote on the Clean Water and Storm Protection Fee.
Ballots can list up to 14 parcel numbers. Property owners that own more than one piece of property with the same mailing address received one ballot with up to 14 of their properties listed on the ballot as well as the Fee for each property. When you cast your ballot, you were casting for all of your properties listed on the ballot.
Yes. Proposition 218 and the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association have clearly specified that the ballots are a public record. However, the balloting procedure will be established so that, to the extent possible, any property owner’s balloting information will not be distributed, except in the case of a specific request to review or audit the ballot results, or as otherwise required by law.
If you submitted a ballot but wish to withdraw it, you must submit your request in writing to the City Clerk. The request for withdrawal must include your name, property address, and the Assessor Parcel Number(s) on the ballot(s) you wish to withdraw. You must provide proof of ownership for a ballot to be withdrawn. Any such request for the withdrawal of a ballot must be received before 5:00 pm, July 5, 2019. The following are acceptable forms of documentation:
Only official ballots that were signed, marked with the property owner’s support or opposition, and returned in a timely manner to the tabulator, were counted. Ballots were tabulated under the direction of the City of Cupertino City Clerk (Tabulator) beginning on or around July 8. The tabulation was open to the public. Of the valid ballots submitted by the deadline, a simple majority (more than 50%) of the number of parcels with a proposed fee greater than $0 voting in favor of the Clean Water and Storm Protection Fee were required for the measure to pass. The results of the ballot tabulation were announced at the July 16, 2019 City Council Meeting.
First, the ballots were returned by mail directly to the City of Cupertino City Clerk and kept in a safe place until the tabulation. Second, the ballots were tabulated under the supervision of the City Clerk, who will certified the results. Third, the ballots will be kept for a period of two years. By law, the ballots are a public record. Therefore, if anyone questions the ballot outcome, the tabulation can be independently reviewed and confirmed.
When you notice:
Visit our EV Charging Stations & Resources page:
https://cupertinoca.prelive.opencities.com/Your-City/Departments/Environment-Sustainability/Transportation-Alternatives/EV-Charging-Stations-Resources?transfer=b99f4342-85b6-4e14-bd7b-bad8d0657fb9
Visit https://ev.svcleanenergy.org/incentives for electric vehicle incentives and rebates.
Visit https://cupertino.climatenavhub.com/662fedd88e99e66330e38b3a to learn about how the City is taking climate action.
Visit https://cupertino.climatenavhub.com/662fedd88e99e66330e38b3a to learn about individual actions you can take to reduce emissions.
Collection for all material occurs between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m., Monday to Friday, once per week.
Collection occurs on all holidays except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years Day. If these holidays occur Monday through Friday, collection will be one day later throughout the rest of that week.
If your garbage, recycling or organics are not picked up by 6 p.m., contact Recology.
Please check our sorting guide, if the item you are looking for is not listed, check Recology's tool, whatbin.com
Yes. There are Fix-It Clinics hosted around the Bay Area to prompt residents to repair their items. Visit https://fixitclinic.blogspot.com/p/scheduled-events.html to find an event near you. For more zero waste, reduce, reuse, and repair information, please visit our Zero Waste webpage.
This is a commonly confused item! Bioplastics are plastics made from organic materials such as corn starch and often contain polylactic acid (PLA). PLA has similar properties to PET and looks like ordinary plastic. This can break down in certain facilities but not in the composting facilities near us. The closest industrial composting facility that accepts corn starch PLA bioplastics is in Los Angeles. Any fiber-based foodware is generally okay. The rule of thumb is if it looks like plastic and has a compostable logo, it should go in the trash. If it looks like it is made from paper, wood, or bamboo, it can go in the compost. BPI-certified compostable bags are the exception as they are allowed by our compost processor to help collect food scraps.
Recology collects all organic waste from residents and takes it to their transfer station facility in San Jose, where it is consolidated into a larger truck and taken to South Valley Organics in Gilroy, CA. Food scraps and yard waste are processed together to create compost.
BPI-certified compostable bag liners can be found at most grocery stores, hardware stores, big box stores like Target, Walmart, Bed Bath & Beyond, and online stores such as Amazon. Here is an example of a BPI Certified pail liner that fits the kitchen containers offered by the City.
If you are in a single family home and do not have a green cart, contact Recology to request one. If you live in an apartment building, start with your property manager to request service. A Waste Zero Specialist may work with the property manager to assess the right level of service for the property. Recology can be reached at: RecologySouthBay@Recology.com or (408) 725-4020.
Food waste that decomposes in a compost process is in an aerobic environment. This allows the food waste to break down and not release methane or carbon dioxide into the atmosphere (unlike rotting in the landfill). Check out more data about the impacts of food waste diversion as it relates to our greenhouse gas emissions on our Climate Action webpage.
The kitchen “garbage” disposal is intended for liquid waste and small bits of food residue from dish washing. Food often contains fats, oils and grease that are the cause of many residential sanitary sewer backups.
Contact Recology for questions about collection service or carts. The City of Cupertino Environmental Programs team is here to help with any questions about sorting or waste prevention. RecologySouthBay@recology.com or call (408)725-4020 Environmental@cupertino.gov or call (408)777-3236
Ignitable: paints, dry or wet, petroleum based products, polishes, gasoline Corrosives: acids, bases, batteries, drain clog remover Toxics: poisons, pesticides, gardening chemicals, ammonia, solvents, electronic waste Reactive: pool chemicals, hydrogen peroxide, iodine, perchlorates Misc: propane, helium, small oxygen tanks, smoke detectors, fluorescent lamps, medications, sharps
Learn more on our Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) webpage: https://cupertinoca.prelive.opencities.com/Your-City/Departments/Environment-Sustainability/Garbage-and-Recycling/Residential-Waste/Household-Hazardous-Waste
Visit the Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) webpage: https://cupertinoca.prelive.opencities.com/Your-City/Departments/Environment-Sustainability/Garbage-and-Recycling/Residential-Waste/Household-Hazardous-Waste to learn how to dispose of your materials. You can make an appointment by calling (408) 299-7300 or visit hhw.org
There are multiple supply pick-up and drop-off locations in Cupertino. Visit https://med-project.org/ for more information.
The City of Cupertino’s Single-Use Plastics Foodware Ordinance aims to reduce plastic waste in the environment by limiting the unnecessary use of single-use plastic food service ware by restaurants and other food facilities - including plates, cutlery, cups, straws, “clamshells” and other containers. Instead, the Ordinance requires fiber-based compostable (or aluminum) cups and containers for take-out, and requires reusable foodware for dining in.
The regulations and enforcement started September 6, 2023.
Cupertino’s ordinance is helpful for meeting the requirements of SB 1383 because the natural fiber-based foodware required by the ordinance can also go into the green carts and bins in Cupertino to be composted. If there is leftover food in the containers, that can go with the containers into the green cart or bin, along with the fiber-based utensils and napkins. Per SB 1383, compostable materials (food, food-soiled paper, fiber foodware) should be kept out of the garbage.
PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are synthetic chemicals commonly used in disposable foodware made from paper/fiber, including compostable paperboard containers, to repel water and grease. These chemicals pose a public health risk as they have been linked to serious health effects including kidney and testicular cancer, thyroid disruption, delayed puberty, and obesity. In keeping with State Assembly Bill 1200, which prohibits the sale or distribution of fiber/paper-based foodware containing PFAS beginning January 1, 2023, the Cupertino Foodware Ordinance requires that foodware products be made from fiber materials free of added PFAS. To verify this requirement, foodware items need to be certified/approved by the Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI) or other party approved by the City in the future.
As long as businesses employ systems in which there is no contact between the reusable item and retail surface areas or employees, Bring-Your-Own (BYO) containers pose no health or safety threat to consumers. Allowing customers to bring their own containers is allowed under state law AB 619.
Yes, expanded polystyrene (EPS) is not permitted for use by food facilities within the City of Cupertino.
If you are a food facility that prepares food on-site for distribution to the public (i.e., you have a valid health permit with the County) and you operate within the limits of the City of Cupertino, then you will need to comply with the Ordinance. This includes restaurants, caterers, cafeterias, coffee shops, grocery stores, delicatessens, mobile or temporary food providers, vehicles or carts, or roadside stands.
A dine-in food facility means a food business where the patron consumes foods and beverages while seated at tables or counters located on the premises.
Yes, while dine-in food facilities must serve food and beverage in reusable containers, they may offer take-out containers for to-go orders and leftovers as long as the foodware items meet the Ordinance requirements.
While traditional plastics are made from petroleum, a fossil fuel, “compostable plastics” are plastic-like polymers made from a variety of non-petroleum materials like plant starch. PLA (Polylactic acid), is one of the more common compostable plastic materials found in foodware. Although considered a “greener” alternative to traditional plastics and designed to break down into useful compost within industrial composting facilities, this material poses many challenges. For instance, compostable plastic looks so much like traditional plastic that it is often mistakenly placed in the recycling bin where it can contaminate the recycling stream as this material can not be recycled. Even when compostable plastics are sent to the proper facility, they don’t always break down fast enough into usable compost and must be screened out and sent to the landfill. Reputable national standards for compostability are usually based on a 180-day composting time, but California facilities often operate on closer to a 90-day cycle. Furthermore, compostable plastics do not break down when littered and pose the same threats to wildlife and the health of the environment as their petroleum-based plastic counterparts.
Yes. Under the current Ordinance, beverage and food container lids used by food facilities are not required to be made from natural fiber (e.g., paper, sugarcane, wheat stalk, etc.). The City understands that for those food facilities that provide grab-and-go food options, the lids will need to be transparent to allow customers to view the food that they are considering for purchase. Additionally, many plastic lids (both traditional and compostable plastic) seem to provide a more secure lock on the food container/cup than the natural fiber counterparts that are currently on the market. However, plastic lids made from #6 plastic (a.k.a. polystyrene) are still prohibited.
Some products do not yet have non-plastic alternatives and as a result are temporarily exempt from the Ordinance. A list of these products may be found at cupertino.gov/foodwareguide. It is important to check this list often as items will be removed from this list as compliant solutions become available.
Yes, a temporary exemption to the Ordinance requirements may be requested when a suitable compliant product is not available or compliance presents a significant economic hardship. To request an exemption, fill out the form.
The Ordinance will be enforced by staff of the Environmental Programs Division of Public Works or other Code Enforcement personnel. Citations and fines may be issued for non-compliance (per CMC 9.15.130).
As of the Sept 6th. 2023 Enforcement Date, all covered food facilities will need to be in compliance with the Ordinance. If additional time is needed to either use existing inventory or because of supply chain shortages, the Food Facility must contact the City at Environmental@cupertino.gov or call (408)777-1356 to ask for a temporary exemption.
The City of Cupertino has hired a consulting team to assist food facilities in making the transition to compliant foodware items. A variety of helpful tools and information is available on the Project Foodware website. Additionally, there are a limited number of mini-grants available to help businesses offset the cost of purchasing compliant items. For assistance, please contact the Project Foodware Hotline at (408) 777-1356 or email environmental@cupertino.gov.
Ask your distributor, vendor, restaurant supply shop, or on-line store what BPI fiber-based compostable foodware products (or aluminum alternatives) are available. The City of Cupertino has made available a product purchasing guide with a selection of compliant items and list of specific vendors. Please note that this is not a comprehensive list and new compostable products are emerging in the marketplace at a rapid pace. The product guide could be found cupertino.gov/foodwareguide.
AB 1200 prohibits PFAS chemicals in foodware, and those are also prohibited in Cupertino’s ordinance, and the same for AB 1276 which requires foodware accessories to be provided only upon request. AB 619 allows consumers to bring reusable containers to a food facility to be filled, provided certain safety conditions are met. While not included in Cupertino’s ordinance, allowing customers to bring their own containers supports reduction of waste and reuse and can be done safely. SB54 is the Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act. This law is an extended producer responsibility law that will require the producers and manufacturers of certain plastic packaging and foodware to achieve specific recyclability and reduction targets by January 1, 2032. It includes goals for shifting to reusable or refillable packaging and food ware systems which are consistent with Cupertino’s ordinance.
Submit a Request for a Restaurant Foodware Concern at cupertino.org/311.
An improved California Model Ordinance which promotes efficient landscapes in new developments and across retrofitted properties. The City updated its local ordinance to conform to the new State requirements while maintaining a streamlined approval process. The updated local ordinance are reflected in the City’s Landscaping Ordinance found in Chapter 14.15 of the Cupertino Municipal Code.
New development projects that include landscape areas of 500 sq. ft. or more are subject to the Ordinance. This applies to residential, commercial, industrial and institutional projects that require a permit, plan check or design review.
The newly adopted ordinance is expected to reduce the water use of a new home by 12,000 gallons a year, or 20 percent. Water use on new commercial landscapes will be cut by approximately 35 percent. This is just one of the many actions our state and City are taking to work to conserve water. To learn about the actions the state has taken to manage our water systems and cope with the drought’s impacts, visit drought.gov.
Sign up for our newsletter at https://cupertinoca.prelive.opencities.com/Your-City/Departments/Environment-Sustainability/Green-News.
Email sustainability@cupertino.gov.
Visit our Climate Action webpage or our Climate Action Dashboard at cupertino.climatenavhub.com to learn about our current & upcoming work plan for our Climate Action Plan (CAP) 2.0
The Climate Action Plan 2.0 is a document that describes a series of measures and actions that will aid the municipal operations and the City as a whole to a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and meet our community goals. The goals include:
Read the whole document at https://cupertinoca.prelive.opencities.com/files/assets/city/v/1/our-community/documents/cupertino-climate-action-p.pdf(PDF, 10MB)
Visit our Climate Action Dashboard at cupertino.climatenavhub.com to find valuable local resources for individual climate actions.
Each City-owned facility uses a different amount of gas, electricity, and water. Visit our Climate Action webpage and look out for our Municipal Utility Dashboard to learn more.
As defined by Cupertino's Municipal code: All-Electric Building: a building that has no natural gas or propane plumbing installed within the building, and that uses electricity as the sole source of energy for its space heating, water heating (including indoor and outdoor pools and spas), cooking appliances, outdoor kitchens, outdoor fireplaces, and clothes drying appliances. All-Electric Buildings may include solar thermal pool heating.
The New Energy Efficiency Building Code was approved by City Council on September 17, 2024. Read the document at https://cupertinoca.prelive.opencities.com/files/assets/city/v/1/departments/documents/environment-amp-sustainability/green-dev/local-sustainability-requirements-for-newly-construction-buildings-and-adopting-local-amendments-to-ca.pdf(PDF, 2MB)
Building codes govern how buildings are designed, constructed, and remodeled. In many cases, it has been found that all-electric buildings are lower cost to develop than buildings with natural gas. If you are planning to build a new residential, multi-family, or commercial building you will need to comply with the energy efficiency requirements.
Eliminating combustion of natural gas in livable areas improves the indoor air quality and improves overall safety associated with fires and gas leaks. A 2002 study by the California Seismic Safety Commission found that damaged gas infrastructure caused 20 to 50 percent of post-earthquake fire ignitions. Electric heat pump appliances (such as water heaters, air conditioning and heaters) are 4-5 times more efficient than equivalent natural gas appliances. Buildings with electric heating are allowed a larger winter baseline quantity of electricity. Additionally, all-electric buildings can more effectively utilize on-site solar generation, which is required in the 2019 Building Code.
Some people still prefer to cook with gas, though customer satisfaction with electric induction stoves is driving a trend toward electric cooking. Electric heat pump water heaters can take up more space than tankless gas water heaters as they include a hot water storage tank.
Yes. Electric alternatives to most equipment are available and most building types, including residential, office, restaurants and many other commercial types, are compatible and benefit from all-electric design. Furthermore, a growing but small number of developers in California are now selecting all-electric buildings for their inherent advantages. Institutions such as the University of California are also building new facilities that are all-electric as a matter of policy, including new housing, laboratories, and classrooms.
The 2019 energy code only lightly regulates industrial process loads. The proposed reach codes do not regulate process appliances, or the fuels used to provide those process services. In addition, Staff is proposing specific exemptions for certain building occupancy types that cannot be feasibly built all-electric, including modifications for commercial kitchen equipment.
In most cases, all electric buildings cost less to build than mixed-fuel buildings because building all-electric eliminates the installation cost of the natural gas infrastructure. These studies examine the upfront costs, maintenance costs, and operational costs of all-electric designs and support these conclusions:
The State code requires solar PV only for low-rise residential new construction. Cupertino’s all-proposed reach https://www.energystar.gov/products/water_heaters code does not include any additional solar PV requirements for non-residential building types.
Yes, a heat pump water heater can equal the performance of a gas equivalent. For example, Rheem's 55 gallon unit can deliver 70 gallons of hot water in the first hour, enough for about four showers. For comparison, Rheem's gas equivalent delivers 79 gallons in the first hour. When selecting any hot water heater, no matter the fuel, make sure it is the right size for your use type. A home with a big family might need a larger 80 gallon tank. More information about selecting an efficient water heater can be found on the ENERGY STAR website.
Yes, when designed appropriately. Many entities are supporting design guideline development, which is expected to be publicly available in early 2020.
Public outreach indicates that cooking with gas remains highly desirable among consumers and restaurant owners. However, it is also true that modern induction cooking is not well known in the U.S., with 7% market share in the U.S. as of 2017. Induction cooking provides many benefits including more control over cooking, improved indoor air quality, and enhanced safety, but a learning curve is present as with any unfamiliar technology.
Induction cooking provides more specific temperature control and is more responsive to variations than gas, is much safer, and induction cooktops are easier to clean. The City of San Jose has an FAQ on induction cooktops. Already popular in other parts of the world, induction cooking is an up-and-comer in U.S. households. The National Kitchen + Bath Association identified it as the fastest growing kitchen trend in its 2018 Design Trends survey. As the market continues to grow, the industry expects wider availability and more options, which could mean increased affordability.
Researchers at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory have found that cooking with gas lowers indoor air quality and raises a variety of health concerns. Researchers estimated that 60% of California homes where a gas stove was used for cooking at least once a week had indoor pollutant levels exceeding legal outdoor limits. The finding means that millions of people are subjected to levels of nitrogen dioxide, formaldehyde, and carbon monoxide in excess of current standards.
Broadly speaking, there are two ways to encourage all-electric new buildings. One is through amendments to the energy code, which is what Cupertino, Silicon Valley Clean Energy, and many neighboring cities have proposed. The other way is by amending the Municipal codes, which is what Berkeley did by banning installation of natural gas infrastructure in many (not all) new planning entitlements. San Jose has taken a hybrid approach first passing an “electric-preferred” amendment to the energy code, which incentivizes all-electric design, and next considering a natural gas infrastructure ban.
PG&E is on record recommending all-electric building codes. They’ve issued a letter to the City of Cupertino indicating they can accommodate the increased load. The requirements for electric utility service planning are no different for an all-electric building compared to a mixed-fuel building, with the reduced burden of service planning for natural gas.
PG&E’s grid reliability has been increasing since 2015. The natural gas grid and electric grid both go down on occasion. In fact, during California's primary natural disaster events, wildfires and earthquakes, utilities are supposed to turn the gas off. For example, 26,000 customers had their natural gas lines turned off in Sonoma County during the recent Kinkade fires, with utilities citing the risk of ignition to the natural gas pipeline system. If 100% reliability is a goal for your home or project, electrification with battery and solar backup via microgrid is an effective solution.
It is true that electric water heaters and induction cooktops will not work in the event of an electrical power failure, unless the home has a battery backup system installed. However, gas appliances may not always work in a power failure either. While most older models of gas stoves can be lit manually during a power outage, certain models of newer gas ranges are made with a safety feature called an interlock that prevents the burner from being manually lit. The purpose of an interlock is to prevent hazardous gas leaks by completely cutting off gas flow to the burners in the event of an electrical outage. (To see if your stove is made with an interlock, check the owner's manual or manufacturer's website.) Similarly, gas ovens require electricity to operate and cannot be manually ignited. In addition, operating a gas stove indoors without proper ventilation fan has been shown to create hazardous indoor air quality conditions.
Gas on-demand water heaters have a control panel that is powered by electricity, which will also not work in a power outage. Thus, using natural gas appliances is no guarantee in an electrical outage.
The City of Cupertino Environmental Programs Division administers various requirements that must be included in new or redeveloped private commercial and single/multi-family housing projects. Covered projects include new construction, tenant improvements, and/or new or modified development use permits. These requirements are required to be implemented to conform with State stormwater pollution requirements and solid waste reduction and recycling mandates. Based on the scope of the project and existing site improvements, all or some of the requirements must be included in the project submittal. Requirements include, but are not limited to, waste and stormwater management, water efficient landscaping, solar, EV charging, Energy Efficiency Building Code, and CA Green Building Code. For more details, visit the Green Development webpage.
Please visit our Water Conservation webpage to learn about free water conservation devices, rebates, resources, and tips.
The City of Cupertino partners with Valley Water to provide water conservation rebates to residents and businesses. Learn more and apply at valleywater.dropletportal.com
Cupertino has two water service providers depending on your location. Please visit the Cupertino Resident Utilities webpage to find out which water provider you have.
The City of Cupertino is following water conservation measures as set by Valley Water. To learn more about water regulations and water conservation efforts, please visit the Drought webpage.
A free quarterly drive-through, drop-off service for Cupertino residents to encourage extended use of products and to prevent valuable resources from being sent to the landfill. Residents can come drop off items that are typically unaccepted in Recology’s curbside service. Find more information at cupertino.gov/environmentalday.
Four times a year. Visit cupertino.gov/environmentalday for exact dates.
Cupertino residents are eligible for two on-call collections per year at no additional cost. Get your damaged or unwanted items picked up at the curb. Each collection has a 3 bulky-item limit. Visit Recology's webpage on bulky items for more information, or call (408) 725-4020 to schedule.
Cupertino collaborates with the UCCE’s Composting Program to offer free 2-hour composting workshops. At these workshops, residents can learn how to build compost piles, vermicompost, and apply the compost in your own garden or landscape.
Please register in advance at UCCE Composting Education Program registration, or by calling (408) 918-4640.
Yes, but registration is required. Please register in advance at UCCE Composting Education Program registration, or by calling (408) 918-4640.
Cupertino residents that attend a compost class are eligible to receive a free Earth Machine compost bin. Contact environmental@cupertino.gov to schedule delivery after attending a composting class.
The City of Cupertino offers free bulk compost to all Cupertino residents at two different sites: Stevens Creek Quarry and Sunnyvale's SMaRT station. The compost is made from residential food scraps and yard waste collected from Cupertino’s organics recycling program. Find more information on our Free Compost webpage: https://cupertinoca.prelive.opencities.com/Your-City/Departments/Environment-Sustainability/Garbage-and-Recycling/Residential-Waste/Compost/Free-Compost?transfer=cfc5cf54-f063-45f6-84ca-b8490d1c2b82
Please visit the Earth & Arbor Day webpage to learn about where, when, and what it’ll be!
Visit the Earth & Arbor Day webpage to find out how to get involved with Earth & Arbor Day.
Visit the Earth & Arbor Day webpage to find out how you can sponsor the event.
Sign up for the Cupertino Environmental and Sustainability Newsletter at https://cupertinoca.prelive.opencities.com/Your-City/Departments/Environment-Sustainability/Green-News to learn about future volunteer opportunities or visit https://cleanacreek.org/ to find out about our biannual creek cleanup events.
Our creek cleanups happen twice a year. Visit https://cleanacreek.org/ to learn more.
Cupertino residents can sign up to host a garage sale when the form opens up in August. Applicants are automatically accepted unless there is an issue with your information. Anyone can shop around at the garage sales using our online interactive map or a printed map & list from select locations.
No. Temporary signs, such as garage sale or lost pet signs, are not permitted to be posted on utility poles or traffic signal/sign posts.