Green & Sustainability Committee

Committee Members
Drew Johnstone, Chair
Harold Shapiro
Amanda Martin
Elizabeth Meshes


Welcome to the SONC Green and Sustainability committee page. We are committed to promoting environmentally responsible practices in Sherman Oaks and helping residents and businesses access valuable resources to support sustainable practices.

💡 Save Energy & Money with LADWP Residential Programs

The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) offers a wide range of rebates, incentives, and programs to help you lower your utility bills, conserve energy, and reduce your environmental impact.

Popular LADWP Residential Programs Include:

• Home Energy Improvement Program (HEIP): Free energy efficiency upgrades for income-qualified customers.

• Efficient Product Marketplace: Access instant rebates for energy-efficient appliances like washers, thermostats, and smart irrigation controllers.

• Cool Roof Rebates: Get money back for installing reflective roofing that keeps your home cooler in summer.

• Electric Vehicle Charger Incentives: Save on Level 2 EV charger installation and wiring upgrades.

🔗 Explore All LADWP Rebates and Incentives

🌱 Swap Out Landscape Equipment 

The SCAQMD Residential Electric Lawn & Garden Equipment Rebate Program helps residents or professional landscapers offset the cost of new, electric lawn and garden equipment by replacing old gasoline-powered versions.

• 🔌The Residential Electric Lawn & Garden Rebate Program is available for eligible residents to receive a maximum of 3 rebates of up to $250 each with the purchases of cordless, battery-electric lawn & garden equipment. Eligible equipment are lawn mowers, trimmers, leaf blowers, and chain saws.  An operable, gasoline powered equivalent equipment must be scrapped in order to be eligible for the rebate.
• 🔌The Commercial Electric Lawn and Garden Equipment Incentive & Exchange Program - Lawn and garden equipment will be made available at a discounted price through pre-authorized dealerships. Equipment available includes handheld trimmers, chainsaws, pruners, backpack and handheld blowers, and ride-on, stand-on, walk-behind and robotic lawn mowers. An equivalent operable gasoline or diesel powered piece of lawn or garden equipment must be scrapped when the new battery-electric equipment is purchased.

🔗 Learn more & apply. 

🌤️ Go Native: California-Friendly Landscaping

Looking to save water and support local biodiversity? Consider transforming your yard with California native and drought-tolerant plants. These plants require less water, attract pollinators, and thrive in our Southern California climate.

Benefits of Native Landscaping:

• Significantly lower water usage

• Reduced need for fertilizers and pesticides

• Support for local bees, butterflies, and birds

• Beautiful, low-maintenance garden options year-round

Helpful Resources:

• 🌼 Turf Replacement Rebate Program – Receive up to $3 per square foot to replace your lawn with sustainable landscaping.
  🔗 Learn more & apply

• 🌿 California Native Plant Society (CNPS): Find the best native plants for your yard.
  🔗 Plant Finder Tool

• 💧 Metropolitan Water District’s BeWaterWise.com: Water-wise gardening tips, design guides, and rebate info.
  🔗 Visit BeWaterWise.com

The commitee created a video of sustainable garden tour below. Any Sherman Oaks resident who wishes to submit their own video tour of a water-wise garden is welcome to do so. Please email a committee member. 

Do you want to get all agendas delivered to you? It’s easy! Go to EmpowerLA.org; click on “neighborhoods councils”, on the drop down menu choose neighborhood council agendas, choose Sherman Oaks, fill in your name and email, click “subscribe.” That’s all there is to it!

Resources

Agenda Requests

The Green & Sustainability Committee conducts its business by reviewing and prioritizing agenda requests for Board action (generally either in the form of a motion or letter) or announcements submitted by stakeholders, governmental entities and other interested individuals and organizations. Green & Sustainability Committee Committee has the discretion to postpone a request, refer it to a specific committee for review and recommendation, treat it as an announcement or consider and resolve it as a non-Board administrative matter.

CLICK HERE to fill out an Agenda Request.

Committee Members

Meetings (Agendas, Minutes, Documents)

If you would like to be notified of our meetings and receive agendas via email,
click here and sign up by checking the NC box.