The Zero Emission Neighborhood (ZEN) pilot aims to implement Climate Smart projects co-created with community members within a targeted area. The ZEN pilot was developed with three main goals in mind:

• Improve quality of life in a pilot neighborhood in ways that matter deeply to residents, including combining outreach and education with hands-on projects;
• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by increasing access to and awareness of actions that support San José’s Climate Smart goals; and
• Demonstrate the feasibility and benefits of the ZEN concept, with an equity focus in mind, in order to gain lessons-learned for potential expansion of the pilot project and for future City programs.

santee multifamily building upgrades incentives

If you are a multifamily building owner in Santee, you may be eligible for thousands of dollars in incentives for building upgrades. These incentives aim to cover up to project cost for a range of building electrification and urban greening projects.

Santee is the San José neighborhood with Story Rd to the North, Highway 101 to the East, Holly Hill Dr to the South, and McLaughlin Ave to the West (see image below).

Learn more about these opportunities and submit an Interest Form for this funding.

Interest Form must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. on March 26, 2024.

Register for an informational session about these opportunities. Informational sessions will take place on:

• March 19, 2024, 10-11 a.m.
• March 20, 2024, 6-7 p.m. 

BACKGROUND

The ZEN pilot was established through a two-year research and outreach process, supported by the City’s American Cities Climate Challenge grant, to determine the pilot design and pilot neighborhood. Environmental Services Department (ESD) staff collaborated with Environmental Studies graduate students at Santa Clara University to analyze multiple equity metrics and identify potential candidate neighborhoods. The team also engaged residents in candidate neighborhoods to understand how the community viewed the ZEN concept, and conducted two workshops with community-based organizations to review and discuss the ZEN concept and the potential candidate areas. Ultimately, ESD staff selected the Santee neighborhood located in Council District 7 as the pilot neighborhood.

current work

Current efforts are primarily focused on urban greening and building electrification.

The ZEN pilot received funding from the North Santa Clara Resource Conservation District to implement urban greening projects through December 2024. To identify what types of urban greening projects were important to residents and should be implemented in Santee – ESD staff surveyed community members and identified a focus area of planting projects, specifically planting native and drought-tolerant plants, which also advance Climate Smart water conservation goals.

The ZEN pilot is currently also focused on building electrification. Burning natural gas in our buildings is a major contributor to climate change, and can have a negative impact on our health and safety. Beginning in April 2024, financial incentives for electrification are anticipated to be available to buildings owners throughout San José through Electric Homes San José. Additional incentives may also be available for building owners in Santee through the ZEN pilot.

ESD staff regularly attend community meetings to provide updates and gain feedback on projects. Thus far through the ZEN pilot, ESD staff hosted a workshop on sustainable gardening and native planting events.

Department of Transportation staff also support the ZEN pilot, with efforts focused on reducing greenhouse gas emissions from delivery and transportation of goods in Santee.

next steps

Pending funding from internal and external sources and input from community members, planned additional ZEN pilot measures include zero emissions mobility and transportation mode shifting, water conservation, and waste reduction.

While the program grows, residents are encouraged to take advantage of financial incentives, rebates, and programs to help create Climate Smart homes and neighborhoods while providing health, safety, and financial community benefits. To learn more, visit the Climate Smart webpage.

recognizing zen community collaborators

Thank you to the many organizations and community groups whose support makes ZEN possible.

• McLaughlin Area Tenants Neighborhood Association
• North Santa Clara Resource Conservation District
• Franklin-McKinley Children’s Initiative, Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County
• City of San José Project Hope

contact

If you have any questions or comments, please email us at: ClimateSmart@sanjoseca.gov.