We are excited to introduce our 2026 summer interns! Our summer intern program is now in its 9th year and we are delighted to welcome this year - Ishika Anand, Kyle Chang, Ayaan Dwivedi, Manya Sikka, Amanda Wang, and Nico B. Westter. Left to Right: Kyle, Ayaan, Ishika, Niko, Amanda and Manya Nico, Amanda and Manya will be working on the "Understanding the food waste pyramid" project. Food waste is a big contributor to climate change. When food ends up in landfills, it creates powerful greenhouse gases like methane. If food waste were a country, it would be the third largest emitter in the world. Through this internship, interns will learn why food waste matters and how communities can reduce it. They will work with real data from local waste haulers, research solutions used in other cities and organizations, and explore how composting can cut emissions. By the end of the internship, they will build skills in research, data analysis, and communication, and share their findings with the GreenTown board and the community. They will be mentored by Madhuri Davidson (GreenTown board member) & Margie Suozzo (Zero waste leader, Schools WoW leader and former board member). Ishika, Kyle and Ayaan will be working on "Promoting Responsible Use of the Batteries That Power Our Lives" project. Our world is full of electronics and many of these devices are powered by lithium-ion batteries. But what happens to those hazardous batteries when they reach the end of their useful life? Hopefully they are properly recycled through a program like the Rotary Climate Action Committee’s Lithium-Ion Recycling Program. Through this internship, interns will help promote this program to local residents by creating short-form videos and other media content demonstrating what items can be recycled through the program, what happens to batteries when they are properly disposed of, and the dangers when they are not. They will be mentored by Laura Teksler (GreenTown board member and Electrification Lead) and Clari Nolet (Chair, Los Altos Rotary Climate Action Committee) Ishika Anand My name is Ishika Anand and I'm a rising junior at Los Altos High School. My interest in sustainability stems from my experience as a member of my school's Green Team. In addition to sustainability, I'm also incredibly passionate about engineering. I am a part of my school's FIRST Robotics Competition team, which drew me to the Lithium Ion Battery Recycling project. Outside of sustainability and engineering, I'm also a goalie on my school's varsity field hockey team and I learn an Indian classical dance style called Kathak. Kyle Chang Hello! I’m Kyle, a rising senior at Hillbrook Upper School. I’ve always loved nature, but my passion for climate action sparked in 9th grade while visiting an Alaskan homestead where we used composting toilets, we foraged for food, and our energy came from micro-hydropower & woodstoves. Under the umbrella of sustainability, my particular interest is in renewable energy systems, such as wind turbines and batteries. To understand these particular systems, I went to Brown pre-college for a summer. Throughout my years in high school, I have done multiple environmental and pollution-based analyses, examining the effects of diesel pollution on asthma rates, PM 2.5 on the Urban Heat Island Effect, and the discrepancies between the locations of EV chargers and roads commonly frequented by vehicles. I interned at Tidelines Institute in Alaska, learning about sustainable indigenous practices and documenting the culturally modified trees in the area. I’ve also gotten the chance to help my community by working with organizations like the Trash Punx, where I picked up trash around San Jose; People Assisting the Homeless, where I organized community events for the unhoused and interim-housed community; and Community Cycles of California, where I repaired and provided bikes to those facing economic challenges. Outside of the climate space, I enjoy photography, sports, and robotics. In the future, I hope to study and build energy systems necessary for environmental conservation. Ayaan Dwivedi Hi, my name is Ayaan and I’m a rising junior at Los Altos High School. My interest in environmental topics stems from early memories of exploring our city’s beautiful parks and spending time outside playing sports. Preserving these local natural spaces for future families to enjoy is a core goal of mine. Furthermore, I began venturing deep into the STEM field in high school, particularly through robotics. With many of my new engineering experiences, I thought more about sustainability questions related to electronics and their environmental impact. I hope to have a unique impact by using the intersection of this knowledge to improve the sustainability of batteries and all other electronics. Outside of school, I love to play tennis, cook, and listen to music! Manya Sikka Hello! I’m Manya, a rising senior at Los Altos High School. I’m passionate about public health and using data to improve the well-being of my community. I’ve been working with students in underserved communities for almost 3 years, which has shown me the effect that environmental conditions can have on groups of people. These experiences made me interested in the intersection of public health and sustainability. Through Greentown, I hope to mitigate the amount of food waste in our town while ensuring that we can implement sustainable, realistic measures to create lasting change. Outside of sustainability and advocacy, I love to hike and listen to music. Amanda Wang Hi! My name is Amanda, and I’m a rising senior at Los Altos High School. I’ve always been interested in using math and data to better understand real-world problems, especially those related to the environment. At school, I founded the Applied Modeling and Data Club, where we’ve participated in competitions like the Modeling the Future Challenge and have worked on projects analyzing the impact of wildfires on public school funding. On campus, I’m also involved in the Women in STEM Club as Co-President and the Math Club as Treasurer. Outside of school, I’ve volunteered with Grassroots Ecology as a Youth Steward, and I’m excited to work with GreenTown to address food waste in the community. In my free time, I enjoy baking, listening to music, and skiing! Nico B. Westter Hello! I’m Nico, a rising senior at Mountain View High School, I like to draw and listen to music, I’d say I’m a creative person. I was inspired to focus on the environment after volunteering with Grassroots Ecology, an organization dedicated to maintaining nature’s natural environment. Next, I was part of the Filoli Historic Museum & Garden Horticulture Internship, taking care of the public garden, continuing my journey of promoting ways to protect nature. I like researching topics I’m interested in, which is what led me to being a part of the Green Town Los Altos’ team in an attempt to understand the food waste problem in our area.

By Glenda Chang This summer, I came home from our family vacation to an unexpected surprise: our washing machine had sprung a leak. What looked like a small puddle turned into a bigger plumbing puzzle, and before long my husband and I were hauling out laundry water by the bucket. It was a workout neither of us planned for. And because most mainstream detergents are high in sodium, we couldn’t just dump the water onto the garden or into the storm drain. Every load had to be carried and disposed of carefully. Not exactly the homecoming we imagined. But somewhere between the buckets, the troubleshooting, and my husband muttering under his breath about pipes and fittings, I realized something. This was the perfect moment to finally try something I had been curious about for years: graywater, specifically a simple Laundry‑to‑Landscape setup. Now that we’re entering our empty‑nest season, no more heavily soiled athletic uniforms or gym bag mysteries from our three sons. Our laundry is lighter, simpler, and a lot more compatible with graywater use. Step 1: The Detergent The first thing I learned is that detergent matters. A lot. Most conventional detergents contain salts, boron, and additives that are tough on soil and plants. So I started with ECOS Free & Clear, a plant‑based, hypoallergenic detergent that fits our family’s needs and is easy to find at Whole Foods. It’s one of the detergents recommended for graywater systems because it’s low in sodium and free of synthetic fragrances. I also learned something reassuring: oxygen bleach (“Oxy”) is graywater‑safe, because it breaks down into oxygen, water, and a mild form of soda ash. That means it won’t harm soil microbes or plants when used in normal amounts. Chlorine bleach, however, is not safe for graywater because it can damage roots and soil biology. Thankfully, I don’t use chlorine bleach anyway, so that part was easy. Step 2: The DIY Setup While we wait for a permanent fix to the washing machine, we connected a temporary hose from the washer to our garden. Definitely a DIY moment. Our dog watched the whole thing with deep suspicion, as if we were rearranging the laws of nature. We’re still in the early stages, and I’m still evaluating whether our clothes feel clean enough with the new detergent. But I’m optimistic. And honestly, it feels good to know that every load of laundry can support our landscape instead of going straight down the drain. Source: Valley Water What’s Next: A Smarter System In my research, I learned about a simple but brilliant addition: a three‑way diverter valve. It lets you switch each load between: Graywater mode for everyday laundry Sewer mode for heavily soiled or disinfecting loads This flexibility is a game‑changer for families who want to conserve water without compromising on cleaning power. It might be our next step once the plumbing situation settles down. Why This Matters for Los Altos Laundry‑to‑Landscape systems are one of the easiest, most affordable ways for homeowners to reuse water. They require no storage tanks, no pumps, and in Santa Clara County, no permit. And in a region where every drop counts, small household experiments like this can add up to meaningful community impact. What started as a plumbing headache has turned into a hands‑on lesson in resilience, conservation, and creativity. And maybe a little muscle building too. More info on Graywater systems Gray Water Rebates I would love to hear from others in our community who have tried graywater or are curious about starting.

On April 29, the Los Altos Complete Streets Commission proclaimed May as “Bike Month,” kicking off a series of events to promote and celebrate cycling in Los Altos and Los Altos Hills. Thousands of cyclists pass through our communities each month, enjoying Santa Clara County’s roads and trails. Hundreds of children and teenagers cycle to our schools every day, while recreational cyclists travel north and south along Foothill Expressway and east and west to and from the foothills of the Santa Cruz mountains. What is it about Los Altos and Los Altos Hills that makes cycling so popular? Perhaps it's our flat streets and bike-friendly routes for commuting, our challenging foothills for recreation, or our near-perfect weather! And once people start cycling, they discover a sense of joy and freedom in the experience. Students quickly learn that one of the fastest–and most fun–ways to get to class is on two wheels. Students at Springer and Santa Rita have now also experienced the joys of riding in a “bike bus” (see sidebar). To share the joy, the City of Los Altos and the Town of Los Altos Hills, together with coalition of community partners, is highlighting a number of events to encourage folks to saddle up and ride during Bike Month: Bike Buses are Coming to Town Springer’s March 6 WoW! Day featured an organized bike bus—the first coordinated bike commute of its kind at the school. It drew 40 participants, with five adults supporting the ride and dozens of students enjoying the journey to school together. The result? Happy kids and a full bike rack! The bike bus returned for Springer’s April 3 and 24 WoW! Days, building even more momentum. And Springer isn’t the only school benefiting. Avid bike commuter and Earth advocate Terry Barton helped spark and organize a bike bus at Santa Rita, as well. Terry worked on a route for the school’s late March WoW! Day focusing on the north side of El Camino. When they arrived at school, bike bus participants were greeted with a bike skills course, lively music, and fun giveaways. Interested in starting a WoW! program or organizing a bike bus at your school? Email us at info@greentownlosaltos.org. May 6 and all month | Bike to school May 6th is National Bike & Roll to School Day 2026, which invites participants to celebrate the joy of active commuting while building a sense of community and school spirit. Many schools are celebrating biking to school with Walk or Wheel (WoW!) encouragement days. WoW! is a project of GreenTown Los Altos, which works with school PTA leads to encourage greener alternatives to the single family car, such as biking, walking, and carpooling, for school commutes. Local school WoW! Days during Bike Month include: May 1 - Covington, Loyola, and Springer Elementary May 6 - Gardner Bullis Elementary May 7 - Bullis Charter School North and South; and May 29 - Oak Avenue Elementary. May 9 | Ride to run The Los Altos Hills Pathways Run/Walk is a great excuse to get on your bike and try out some hills. Go early and run (1st race starts at 9am) or go later and spectate. May 15 | Bike to dinner Downtown Los Altos Bike ‘n Dine is back for the fourth year in a row, from 5-8pm! Bring your bike, friends, and family, and join us for a fun-filled evening of biking, dining, and community-building at the Veteran’s Community Plaza on the corner of State and Main Streets! There will be music, activities for children, and a “bike valet” to safely park your bike while you explore the vibrant downtown area on foot. We'll also share event swag including exclusive dining discounts and offers from downtown restaurants. May 23 | High School Student Bike Tour of Stanford Get to know bike and train routes to Stanford and learn more about university life and programs from local students. For more information on these and other events that promote and celebrate cycling during Bike Month, visit bikelosaltos.com and bikelosaltos.org. Bike Month is organized by a coalition including the City of Los Altos, the Town of Los Altos Hills, GreenTown Los Altos, Safe Routes to Downtown Los Altos, Los Altos Village Association, and the Anne Wojcicki Foundation.

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Past Programs CLIMATE CHANGE Encouraged the City to sign the US Mayor’s Climate Protection Agreement. Recommended the City complete baseline inventory of greenhouse gas emissions. WASTE Saved the City >$200,000 in consulting fees by providing in-depth research and analysis for waste contract. Educated Environmental Commission and City Council about waste collection issues, including importance of food waste and compostables collection WoW! This is a great place to tell people more about your business. WATTS This is a great place to tell people more about your business, and the services you offer. Want to make this content your own? It's easy. WATER This is a great place to tell people more about your business, and the services you offer. Want to make this content your own? It's easy.

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