Welcome to Energy Upgrade Update
Energy Upgrade Update is the place for contractors to learn about Energy Upgrade CaliforniaTM in San Diego. We invite you to participate in the events and activities in the newsletter and to pass your e-mail copy along to other interested contractors. Anyone can sign up to receive Energy Upgrade Update by visiting www.energycenter.org/upgrade or by e-mailing Jesse Fulton at
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Listen In: Home Performance Contractor Conversations
Join us for conversations with home performance contractors and industry experts on communicating the benefits and building the business case for home performance. The focus during this webinar series is on communicating the value and benefits of whole house home performance.
Home performance can be complicated to explain, but effective communication can produce the leads and sales you are looking for. Discover ways to improve your close rate and generate leads by presenting simple ideas that move customer's to action. You will learn how to talk to homeowners about why home performance is the right option and why simply blowing insulation is not.
You will learn how to communicate better in your materials and on your website as well as face to face with homeowners. We'll share tips and techniques that you can start using right away, and by the end of the discussion, you will be able to spin tough customer questions into your sales presentation.
To register for upcoming webinars, click here.
GETUP with Energy Upgrade Hands-On Training
CCSE launched the second Green Grad Education and Training Upgrade Program (GETUP) on October 31 with 13 enthusiastic students ready to learn more about home performance through fieldwork, classroom training and intern opportunities.
The GETUP program's target participant is an employee in a contracting company that is looking to transition into the home performance business but doesn't have the hands-on experience needed to feel comfortable diving right in.
The GETUP program is a two-week, 96-hour hands-on experience where participants can try their hand at home assessments. Based on a student/trainer-developed scope of work, GETUP participants upgrade a home and test their work for proper installation and equipment function. Students work in tight spaces and at difficult hands-on tasks, but the program prepares them well for a job in the green energy industry.
Optional GETUP coursework includes a week of classroom training during which students update their resumes, learn financial strategies and practice sales skills. The training is followed by a 30-hour paid internship with a local Energy Upgrade California participating contractor.
For more information or to participate in the GETUP program, visit www.energycenter.org/getup or e-mail Jennifer Green, retrofit education manager at
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City of San Diego Offers Additional Rebates
The San Diego Home Energy Upgrade ( SDHEU) program is off to a great start with 24 projects submitted. Don't forget to take advantage of the matching incentive portion of the program, which enables Energy Upgrade California participating contractors to receive an additional $1,000 for a Basic energy upgrade and $1,750 for an Advanced energy upgrade.
In order to qualify for the SDHEU matching incentive, the property receiving the upgrades must be located within the City of San Diego, and the customer must also meet the eligible moderate-income qualifications (which may be found at www.energycenter.org/sdheu under "Matching Incentives").
Coupling the Basic path matching incentive of $1,000 with the Energy Upgrade California $1,000 rebate, a customer could potentially pay for half of an energy upgrade on rebates alone!
For more information on the program and to download the SDHEU forms/guidelines, please visit www.energycenter.org/sdheu or call Liza Gray at (858) 244-1177.
Thank you to those of you that participated in the SDHEU webinar in October. The presentation may also be found on www.energycenter.org/sdheu under "Resources."
Post Upgrade – Indoor Air Quality Significantly Better
Just a couple of days after a complete home energy upgrade, Mike Gorski noticed his allergies had begun to subside, and after a few months, they were nearly nonexistent. Paula Gorski noted that their bedrooms that were either too hot or cold were now comfortable. She said that cooking odors cleared out quickly and no longer lingered in the house.
The Gorskis, who live in the Rancho Del Rey community of Chula Vista, received an energy-efficiency remodel through the Energy Upgrade California Community Savings Initiative to serve as a model for upgrades. The project was completed in July, and for nearly four months, the Gorskis have enjoyed a much more comfortable home with significantly improved air quality and consistent temperatures throughout their home.
The Gorskis' two-story, five-bedroom home had a number of energy-efficiency upgrades and water-saving measures installed. The list includes cellulose attic insulation, new ductwork, mechanical ventilation featuring a heat recovery ventilator (HRV), high-efficiency air conditioning and heating systems, zoning system, energy monitoring system, LED lighting, ENERGY-STAR appliances, tankless water heater, recirculation pump and low-flow shower heads and faucet aerators.
The Gorskis primarily credit their increased comfort to the HRV system coupled with the air sealing and improved insulation in the attic. "The air in our house is always fresh," Paula said. "The HRV system runs continuously, but only uses the same amount of electricity as burning a light bulb."
The tankless water heater and recirculation system provides them with hot water for showers in an instant. Previously, in the upstairs master bath, they had to run the hot water for up to 15 minutes before it was hot enough to shower. Overall, they report that the retrofits have greatly increased their quality of life while reducing their energy use. To learn more about the Gorskis' upgrade and watch a video, click here.
Remodel Your Future through TOP HVAC
Are you considering becoming a home performance contractor or collaborating with one but don't know how to start? Are you interested in participating in Energy Upgrade California, the state's incentive program for homeowners? Learn about CCSE's Training and Outreach Program for HVAC Contractors: TOP HVAC. It is a two-month program funded through the U.S. Department of Energy designed specifically for you.
The TOP HVAC for November-January is getting under way. To join up, go to the TOP HVAC website. For more information, contact Jennifer Green at
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Energy Upgrade California on the Road
More than 2,000 people have explored the choices available in home energy-saving products and services found inside CCSE's Residential Energy Roadshow during its first months of touring events throughout Southern California. The mobile display, which boasts more than 35 sustainability partners, is built inside a trailer and transported by a propane autogas-fueled truck donated by ROUSH CleanTech.
On board the Roadshow, residents find materials from industry partners that address a wide range of practices to save residents energy and money in their own homes, such as capturing rainwater, insulating homes and incorporating new lighting technologies.
The Roadshow is funded by the Department of Energy in support of its BetterBuildings Neighborhood Program and two California programs, Energy Upgrade California™ and Go Solar California
More information, including a schedule of events, is available at www.energycenter.org/roadshow.
Home Energy Makeover Contest in Rancho Cucamonga
Two Energy Upgrade California participating contractors in San Bernardino County, REEis and Connector Electric/C. E. Solar, joined with the City of Rancho Cucamonga to sponsor a Home Energy Makeover Contest to win an energy upgrade valued at up to $5,000. Some 250 city residents entered, and homeowner Myrna Tucker won the contest. Five others received free home energy audits valued at $500 each. The contractors donated the prizes. The goal of the contest was to increase energy efficiency within the community, help residents save money on energy bills and promote the Energy Upgrade California rebate program, according to Alana Rivadeneyra, sustainability coordinator for Rancho Cucamonga.
Home Performance Corner
Passive heating and cooling
Besides being a comfy living room, this ranch home is being heated for free. Here's how. . . . The tile is being heated by the sun.
The room is designed so that sunlight enters at an angle because
1) The window is south facing.
2) The overhang is just high and deep enough to harvest the winter sun but block it in summer.
This basic principle is called passive solar design. Most architects know about it but very few use it. I don't know why. This is a solar cat — she understands purr-fectly.
Ideally, we want to balance the amount of solar glazing (windows and glass doors) with the amount of thermal mass in our home. Tile and any other exposed masonry material work well to soak up the free solar heat and liberate it, free of charge — silently — throughout the night. For more on this, check out The Solar House by Daniel Chiras. We have a copy in the CCSE library. Passive solar design is as green as green building gets.
Featured Contractor
Greenwise Solutions
Soheil Nakhshab's approach to home performance contracting is clear from part of his company name – solutions. At Greenwise Solutions, Nakhshab and his partners apply all-in-one approaches that can make any home more energy efficient, more comfortable and less costly – right in line with Energy Upgrade California goals.
"Energy Upgrade California works in parallel with our construction and design services," Nakhshab said. "To us, applying quality measures to design, engineering and construction equates to a green, energy-efficient product."
Nakhshab reports that from his perspective Energy Upgrade California is ideal for his customers who own older, pre-1980 homes and can go after "the low-hanging fruit," indicating a host of relatively basic upgrades from sealing cracks to replacing light fixtures. "These homes are often able to qualify for the total rebate amount, allowing them to avoid any out of pocket expenses. This is especially true for homes in Chula Vista where they can qualify for further rebates from the city," Nakhshab said.
By focusing on specific communities, Nakhshab said, we can reach the homeowners that can really take full advantage of the incentives the program has to offer.
Greenwise Solutions Upgrade Reductions
- 1980s and older homes: 30-50% of utility costs
- 1990s and newer homes: 10-15% of utility costs
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Incentives Programs 
Green Workshops & Events 
