We hope you’re enjoying learning about what goes on behind-the-scenes with SSMC’s core programs and seeing how they make our county more sustainable. Up next is the Sustainability Ideas Bank, a collection of over 80 solutions to the most important issues facing our cities. Most of these solutions were researched by the 62 student interns who have worked with us since 2019. Many of them tell us they were so inspired by speaking with experts and learning how policy is shaped that they have changed their majors and career plans to focus on making our world more sustainable.

If you value a county where everyone can live sustainably and where we are preserving a world for the next generation, we ask that you support our work. SSMC is a local, independent organization and your tax-deductible donation directly supports the sustainability of our county.

A friendly reminder! Donors who set up a recurring monthly donation of at least $20 per month will receive an invitation to our fabulous end-of-year donor appreciation event. We have a very special guest you will enjoy meeting! Donate now to be sure you are invited.

Warm regards,

Sarah Hubbard
Executive Director
Sustainable San Mateo County

Sustainability Ideas Bank

Let’s not reinvent the wheel! There are many sustainability solutions that have been tested and proven across the U.S. and around the world. However, without someone documenting these solutions and providing an easy way to find and access them, some cities will try to craft their own solutions, starting from scratch, without the benefit of these previous successes. Or, more likely, they won’t have the bandwidth to try at all.

The Sustainability Ideas Bank makes solutions easy to find and easy to use, allowing government and community leaders to quickly advance their own sustainability goals. Policies and programs are presented as case studies on everything from affordable housing to waste management. They are carefully researched, often by our student interns, and vetted by groups of experts on specific topics. Our interns learn what it takes to create strong policy, and our community benefits from solutions that have already proven successful.

A lot of work goes into creating solutions for our Ideas Bank.

Behind-the-Scenes

Each solution takes more than 100 hours to create:

We identify the need for new solutions by meeting with city officials, community organizations and subject matter experts and consulting our own Dashboard.
We do research to find the most promising solutions and understand the details that make these solutions effective. We don’t stop at the Bay Area, we scour other states and countries for the best ideas.
Important details of a solution are often not documented and available online. We seek out this information, conducting roundtable discussions and one-on-one interviews to understand and share the challenges and keys to success.

Impact

Sustainability Managers throughout San Mateo County are using the Ideas Bank to implement their Climate Action Plans, saving our cities time and resources.
This year SSMC transformed the Ideas Bank into an online, searchable database. Now solutions are easily accessible to everyone in San Mateo County and beyond.
Over 60 interns have researched Ideas Bank solutions as part of their SSMC internships, accelerating their sustainability careers.

What’s Next

Over 20 new solutions are in the pipeline to be published this year!
We’re currently working with partner organizations and volunteers to start the next set of solutions.
Existing solutions are being updated as new data and lessons become available.

To keep our Ideas Bank up to date and address the county’s most pressing issues, we need your support. Every dollar donated goes into the work needed to find, research, vet and make solutions available that will make the cities in our county – and the county itself – more sustainable.

Please make a tax-deductible donation now to support this important work. Remember, donors who set up a $20 monthly recurring donation will receive an invitation to our fabulous end-of-year celebration event with our most committed sustainability leaders and supporters from throughout our county.

Donate Now

Next week, we go behind the scenes of the Sustainability Awards!