NEWS RELEASE: City of San José Engages Local Neighborhood to Increase Resiliency to Extreme Heat

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Oshi Jauco, Public Information Manager, San José Clean Energy 408-533-3764; [email protected] City of San José Engages Local Neighborhood to Increase Resiliency to Extreme Heat SAN JOSE, Calif. (September 22, 2025) - The City of San José's Climate Smart Division has launched the Extreme Heat and Resiliency Project to help neighborhoods stay safe during extreme heat. The project is funded by a state grant that focuses on the City's Zero Emissions Neighborhood (ZEN) pilot area in the Santee neighborhood. San José is expected to face hotter temperatures and more frequent heat waves in the coming years. This project will provide education, resources, and upgrades to help residents prepare. City staff introduced the project at a McLaughlin Area Tenants Neighborhood Association meeting on September 18, 2025, and gathered input from Santee residents. The project goals include: Upgrading the Roosevelt Community Center so it can serve as the City's first "resilience hub," offering a place for residents to get tools and resources that can help them during heat waves and emergencies such as backup power or charging devices. Helping families install modern cooling systems by offering rebates for heat pump HVAC units. Right now, about 22 percent of single-family homes and 40 percent of apartments in San José do not have central air conditioning. Sharing at least 100 heat safety toolkits and educational resources to help residents protect themselves during hot weather. The City is working with the McLaughlin Area Tenants Neighborhood Association and Project Hope, a City program that supports resident leadership, to carry out this project. Funding is provided by the Governor's Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation's Integrated Climate Adaptation and Resiliency Program. "Extreme heat is one of the biggest climate risks facing San José," said City Manager Jennifer Maguire. "This project delivers resources directly to our neighborhoods, while listening to residents and creating solutions that work for them. By working as One Team, we can build stronger, healthier, and more resilient communities who are prepared for the hotter summers ahead, and future emergencies." "We're proud to have 300 days of sunshine each year in San Jose - but that also means we have a responsibility to help keep our residents cool," said Mayor Matt Mahan. "That's why this investment is so important - not only are we improving city infrastructure, but we're giving our families the knowledge, know-how and support to keep themselves safe as temperatures rise." About the City of San José With almost 1 million residents, San José is one of the most diverse large cities in the United States and is Northern California's largest city and the 12th largest city in the nation. San José's transformation into a global innovation center has resulted in one of the largest concentrations of technology companies and expertise in the world. About Climate Smart San José Climate Smart San José (Climate Smart), adopted by the City Council in 2018, lays out how San José is addressing climate change. It's a community wide initiative to reduce air pollution, save water and improve quality of life. Climate Smart is one of the first detailed city plans for reaching the targets of the international Paris Agreement. To get there, Climate Smart set ambitious goals for energy, water, transportation and local jobs. In November 2021, City Council set a goal of communitywide carbon neutrality by 2030, thereby accelerating Climate Smart, and approved the City's Pathway to Carbon Neutrality by 2030 in June 2022. About the Zero Emissions Neighborhood (ZEN) Pilot Launched in 2022, the ZEN pilot was designed with input from residents through surveys, workshops, and equity working groups. The Santee neighborhood in Council District 7 was chosen as the pilot site. ZEN projects so far include planting native plants, supporting community gardens, reducing emissions from freight, and offering building electrification incentives for multi-family housing. About the Extreme Heat and Community Resilience Program (EHCRP) The EHCRP is funded by the Governor's Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation. It supports local and tribal projects that protect communities most impacted by heat. In its first year, the program awarded nearly $32 million to 46 projects across California. Funded strategies include creating heat action plans, building cooling solutions, and testing reflective surfaces to lower temperatures. # # #