SSMC celebrates sustainability champions with prestigious awards every spring. In addition to our Sustainability Awards, we collaborate with the San Mateo Chapter of the American Institute of Architects to present Green Building Awards to sustainability building owners, architects and builders. The SSMC Board may also recognize exemplary contributors to our work with the Ruth Peterson Award, named in honor of SSMC’s founder. Learn more about this year’s nomination criteria and deadlines, sponsorship opportunities and event.

Our Indicators for a Sustainable San Mateo County reports provide fact-based information on local trends impacting our economy, environment and society. Each year this report takes a deep dive into one sustainability topic and examines its ramifications for San Mateo County. These reports raise awareness of sustainability in the county and improve our ability to make sound decisions for the benefit of future generations.

Our Sustainability Dashboard tracks progress in 11 sustainability focus areas with 30 metrics for all 20 cities in San Mateo County, so local leaders and residents can track progress toward sustainability goals. City leaders have the opportunity to include comments in a Narrative that accompanies each year’s data. While sharing the data with city leaders, we also suggest proven solutions from our Sustainability Ideas Bank that have been successfully implemented by other cities.

The Sustainability Ideas Bank offers proven, impactful sustainability solutions to local cities and businesses that have been implemented successfully elsewhere. Why reinvent the wheel when you can benefit from the experience of others? Each solution includes resources and contact information so people can get questions answered by those who have paved the way.

SSMC’s monthly Happy Hours bring people together and build community. At these informal gatherings, held online, you’ll meet experts on a wide variety of sustainability topics and explore solutions to current issues. You can ask questions and suggest ideas. We encourage everyone to bring a green drink to Happy Hours.

To help accelerate sustainability, SSMC advocates for programs and policies that align with our values, and we partner with other organizations to magnify our mutual efforts. Recent efforts have included advocacy for equity in local mass transit with the Transportation Equity Allied Movement Coalition (TEAMC) and supporting electrification of buildings and electric vehicle infrastructure with the Campaign for Fossil Free Buildings in Silicon Valley. In 2020 we affirmed our support for working with communities of color and helping to eliminate racism with a Racial Equality Proclamation.