Celebrate this Valentine’s Day by showing your love for the planet with these sustainability tips:
● Shop and dine at local businesses that use 100% renewable energy with MCE
● Plan your date night between 4 and 9p.m. to reduce your energy bill at home
● Use MCE’s income-qualified rebates to upgrade to an EV

More than 52% of consumers plan to celebrate Valentine’s Day this year and will spend an average of $192.80 on flowers, chocolate, dining out, and traveling. Like most things that have been impacted by inflationary pressure,  this average cost is up from $175.41 in 2022.

To ensure that your holiday buying is sustainable this year, practice small changes like shopping locally, buying long-lasting gifts, and curating an experience.

Shop and dine locally.

Shop and dine at one of the many businesses in MCE’s service area that have opted up to 100% énergie renouvelable to power their business. Use MCE’s map to find a 100% renewable business in your area to plan your Valentine’s Day outing. Here are some ideas:

• Choose fair-trade chocolate and roses. Buy a box of chocolates or roses from a fair-trade certified company committed to rigorous social, environmental, and economic standards.
• Look for Sacred chocolate at your local grocery store. These heart-shaped, organic, raw chocolate bars are made in a Novato chocolate factory powered by MCE’s 100% renewable energy.
• Visit a local eatery like Pond Farm Brewery. This brewery runs on MCE’s 100% renewable energy and offers a family-friendly local brewery and restaurant experience with delicious food and made-in-house beer. It’s a perfect place for a date with family, friends, or other loved ones!
• The Bay Area is home to some of the world’s most famous wine regions and premier wineries. Visit a local winery that runs on MCE’s 100% renewable energy such as Matthiasson Vineyards in Napa County.
• Plan your outing between 4 and 9 p.m. to reduce your energy bill at home.

Buy a long-lasting gift.

If an EV has been on your wish list, consider giving a long-lasting gift to your family or yourself by trading in your gas-powered vehicle for an EV. Check to see if you qualify for MCE’s EV rebates. When it comes to energy efficiency, EVs are one of the biggest electric swaps you can make. Upgrading to an EV saves the average driver $1,000 – $2,000 per year and eliminates your transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions.

Curate an experience.

Consider taking a road trip in your electric vehicle to a local area like the Point Reyes National Seashore and stop at cafes like Station House Cafe ou Hog Island Oyster Farm. Both run on MCE’s 100% renewable energy.