People are getting paid to conserve energy: Learn how you can take advantage

Don’t be afraid. Yes, this article is about energy conservation, however I don’t plan to preach about how you need to live in the stone age to be sustainable.  I just want to lay out a few perspectives and let you know about some free energy conservation services you can take advantage of;  helping you save money.  Plus, I even highlight a few jobs that might be available if you are thinking about joining the green workforce.  (Note:  If you like learning about sustainable living in San Francisco, subscribe and you will be notified when a new article is published)

 

Let’s start with some truths.  America became the world’s strongest economy and military because of our drive, ingenuity and vision.  We were able to actualize our vision because we had access to fossil fuels which were readily available and cheap.  Now we are realizing that our fossil fuels are limited.  We are also realizing that all the infrastructure we created was created by fossil fuels, and in turn, relies on fossil fuels in order to operate.  For instance, look around you. a large percentage of the materials you see every day are manufactured using fossil fuels and transported to your location via fossil fuels.  

 

So, what do we do now?  

Energy conservation is the path of least resistance and can really help us decrease our dependency on foreign oil, while giving us more time to create efficient, renewable energy solutions.  So, in the meantime, there are organizations in the Bay Area who can help you conserve energy for free.  

Keep in mind, the more you conserve, the more money you will save on your utility bill, so everyone should try and take advantage of these services.

In San Francisco there is a new citywide energy efficiency program for residences.  They are the San Francisco Home Improvement and Performance Program (SFHip) program, which started in October 2010, and the Green Home Assessment program, which started in February 2011.  

The Green Home Assessment program will provide free, green home assessments to residents who qualify.  All you have to do is call 415-355-3769 and a member of the team will come to your residence, perform a free analysis of your home and give you free safety and energy conservation tips.  After the free assessment, you will be given information of how you can receive free energy and water conservation products from the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC).

If you want to do some heavy lifting and spend money to make your home more energy efficient, then take advantage of the  SFHip program.  The great thing about this program is that there are rebates available that cover up to $7000 of the cost of work done.  The city of San Francisco will put you in touch with a qualified contractor to complete a full home performance test.  This involves a 3-4 hour assessment from a specially trained, BPI Certified contractor who will provide a detailed report identifying the home owner’s energy savings opportunities.  This report usually yields opportunities that will make a home that is more efficient, more comfortable and improve indoor air quality. The cost of this initial assessment has gone from $700 down to under $99, so now is a good time to take advantage of this program.  Once again, take advantage of the rebates that can help dramatically reduce the costs of your contractor bills.  Check out the rebates here.   

One happy resident, Alexander Ismail, took advantage of the SFhip program in conjunction with rebates from PG&E so he could insulate his attic and walls.  He hired a green contractor who was familiar with the local rebate programs offered.  The contractor handled all the paperwork for him and when all was said and done, he had insulation installed in his home for only $400.  If he did not take advantage of the $2,000 from SFHIP and $4,000 from PG&E’s Energy Upgrade California program, he would have paid $6,400.  Not to mention his energy bills the next 2 months were 30% less than usual.  “I hired Building Efficiency for this project and they were instrumental in making the energy upgrade smooth and cost effective.  My home is warmer and much quieter than I expected.  Now that I have proper insulation, I find myself enjoying the indoors and the comforts of my home much more than before.  Plus I am saving money on my energy bills.”

“The Green Home Assessment Program is important because it puts people to work, and it educates San Francisco residents about saving energy, conserving water, and being prepared should a major disaster occur.” Remarks Raymond Manion, from San Francisco’s department of the Environment.

“Additionally, homeowners can act upon what they’ve learned and take steps to make their homes more efficient, comfortable, and healthy by getting a whole home energy upgrade, paid for in part by local and federal incentives.”

One can take advantage of these programs by calling 415-355-3769 or visit www.sfenvironment.org/sfhip for more information about conserving energy in your home in San Francisco.

Just across the water in Berkeley there is a non-profit group called Rising Sun Energy Center.  They are doing similar work, however they are taking a different approach.  Rising Sun Energy Center is training an energy conservation workforce to help reach their short term goals of helping grow the energy efficiency industry and their long term goals of helping our world adopt more sustainable behavior.  

They have two programs people can take advantage which helps residences become more energy efficient and helps people join the green workforce.   

The first program is the California Youth Energy Services (CYES) program which hires and trains youths, ages 15-22,  to perform residential energy audits.  If you are a youth and are looking to enter the green workforce, this is a great opportunity for you to get great training and experience.  Or, if you are a home owner in the East Bay and would like to get a free home performance assessment, check out the Green House Call services this program offers.   

The second program is the Green Energy Training Services (GETS) program which trains adults with construction experience who are looking to join the green workforce.  If you are a dislocated construction worker or an adult with barriers to employment, you can apply to the energy efficiency technical training program which is free, and will prepare you for entry-level jobs in energy efficiency and the Building Performance industry.  Currently, this program is available for residents of Richmond or Berkeley only.

Or, if you are a home owner in Richmond or Berkeley, you can apply for highly subsidised energy efficiency upgrade services.  Through support from the City of Berkeley, the City of Richmond, and PG&E, Rising Sun’s own Building Performance social enterprise provides moderate-income residents of Berkeley and Richmond with highly subsidized retrofit services while providing employment to graduates of the GETS program.  Click to receive an Energy Upgrade.

Elana Foshay, program manager at Rising Sun Energy Center,  remarks “In building community support for energy efficiency, community members and organizations must work together.  To achieve the energy saving goals we need, the energy efficiency industry has to take off in a big way.  And for that to happen, the public must be bought in and understand that there is a return on their investment.  There is a lot of footwork involved for that to happen - a lot of community outreach, a lot of time spent educating people on how they use energy in their homes.  Nobody can do all that work alone.”

Additionally, PG&E has many energy efficiency rebates that you can take advantage of that range from appliances, remodeling, lighting, heating and cooling systems, pool pumps and more.  Check out the following link to see how you can save money on installing energy efficiency products.