Energy Connection Newsletter

Director's Desk
Join the Summer of Energy Independence

In this issue of Energy Connection, we're exploring a brand new and limited-time innovative energy program – Reduce then Produce – that is unique and designed exclusively for San Diego County residents. It's an exceptional deal for homeowners and a limited-time offer, so it's important that everyone know that this is the time to take action. You get reduced prices on energy efficiency, reduced prices on solar panels and installation, and you have access to available financing mechanisms at very reasonable interest rates – how can you pass this up? So don't wait to take advantage of this great clean energy opportunity, and tell your friends and neighbors about it. Participating will lead to many years of savings and comfort, while helping the city, state and nation achieve its goals of clean energy and energy independence.

Reduce then Produce
San Diego Offers New Energy Discounts

Summer is in full swing and so are homeowner's utility bills. But there's a new pathway for San Diegans to take to reduce their home's energy use and produce their own solar power – Reduce then Produce.

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Residential Energy Roadshow
Travelling showcase for sustainable energy

CCSE is taking sustainable home energy ideas and practices on the road! The CCSE Residential Energy Roadshow, a 24-foot portable resource center, is designed to educate and inspire Southern Californians to learn about and adopt energy-saving practices in home efficiency, solar technologies and alternative-fuel transportation.

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Energy Upgrade in Chula Vista

Community Savings Initiative – Chula Vista Mayor Cheryl Cox speaks with Ken Justo of ASI Hastings Heating and Air Conditioning during the Energy Upgrade California block party held in the Rancho Del Rey community. A highlight of the event was touring the home of Mike Gorski and Paula Whitsell, which recently was upgraded as a model of an energy-efficient home. Tours will continue through the summer. For information, click here.

Community Energy Action Hero
Taking Green to the Streets – Lifestyle Transportation

As the first recipients of a $5,000 check from the newly created San Diego Airport Vehicle Rebate Program, Jorge Rodriguez and Kole Handy, owners of Lifestyle Transportation, weren't satisfied with just getting one Lincoln MKZ hybrid luxury sedan – they plan to buy five alternative fuel vehicles with rebates, saving enough to purchase a sixth car for free. .

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Financing Workshop
Helping Contractors Seal the Deal

Upgrading a home's energy efficiency and installing solar are among the most important steps for California to successfully reduce its energy consumption and meet environmental goals for curbing greenhouse gas emissions. While rebates and educational programs can motivate a homeowner to save energy, the ability of home performance contractors to make the sale is critical, and often depends largely on financing.

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Inside the ERC

Energy Resource Library now has its complete catalog of books, DVDs and tools online with advanced hold for items you want to check out. Simply search by subject, author, title, manufacturer, name or type, and if what you want is available, you can put a hold on it until you come by CCSE to complete the check-out process. Go to the library website.

Display LED Retro Single Plate by L.E.D. Enviroworks To switch outdoor lighting from high intensity discharge (HID) or fluorescent to more energy efficient and economical light emitting diodes (LEDs), there is no need to purchase new fixtures. Instead, LED conversion kits are available that can save up to 80 percent in energy.	Tool Kill A Watt Reduce your energy costs with the new Kill A Watt EZ. Plug it into a wall socket and then plug in your appliances to assess how efficient they really are. The large LCD will display the power consumption by the Kilowatt-hour and the built-in memory retains accumulated readings when power is interrupted. Click here to learn more.
Book Making a Living While Making a Difference: Conscious Careers in an Era of Interdependence A timely and informative guide to a working life built on principled choices and an entrepreneurial attitude. Click here to learn more.	DVD "carbon nation" Even if you doubt the severity of the impact of climate change or just don't buy it at all, this is still a compelling and relevant film that illustrates how solutions to climate change also address other social, economic and national security issues. Click here to learn more.

Policy and Planning

	Energy Efficiency This rulemaking continues the work of R.06-04-010 and serves as the forum for the California Public Utility Commission's continued implementation of the California Energy Efficiency Strategic Plan as well as the forum for initiating the next planning cycle for 2013-2015 energy efficiency program plans, funding levels and related issues. Read updates.

	Energy Efficiency Risk/Reward Incentive Mechanism (RRIM) This rulemaking will address the California Public Utility Commission's policies related to an energy efficiency risk/reward incentive mechanism (RRIM), which offers the four major California energy utilities, i.e., Pacific Gas and Electric Company ( PG&E), Southern California Edison Company ( SCE), San Diego Gas & Electric Company ( SDG&E) and Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas), incentives to achieve or surpass CPUC-adopted energy efficiency goals and to extend California's commitment to making energy efficiency the highest energy resource priority. Read updates.

	California Solar Initiative, Self-Generation Incentive Program and Other Distributed Generation Issues This rulemaking continues the work of R.08-03-008, developing and refining policies, rules and programs for the California Solar Initiative ( CSI) and the Self-Generation Incentive Program ( SGIP) and considering policies for the development of cost-effective, clean and reliable distributed generation ( DG). Read updates.

	Sunrise Powerlink Transmission Project San Diego Gas & Electric ( SDG&E) seeks authority from the California Public Utilities Commission to construct a 500 kV transmission line in conjunction with several 230 kV transmission lines, expected to run 150 miles between the Imperial Valley to San Diego. Read updates.

Inside This Issue:

Join the Summer of Energy Independence

Reduce Then Produce

Residential Energy Roadshow

Community Energy Action Hero

Financing Workshop

Event Calendar

Did you know CCSE offers free, ongoing workshops on energy efficiency, solar energy, green building, transportation and climate change? Register now! Click on the links below or call (866) SDENERGY.

Solar Water Heating Contractor and Self-Installer Training
Date: Thursday, Aug 25, 2011

Energy Upgrade California for Homeowners
Date: Thursday, Aug 25, 2011

Solar for Homeowners 1 - Getting Started
Date: Thursday, Aug 25, 2011

San Diego Urban Tree Club - Mission Hills Tree Planting
Date: Saturday, Aug 27, 2011

Non-Residential CalGreen - Focus on Energy Efficiency
Date: Wednesday, Aug 31, 2011

CCSE: In the News

CCSE's Andrew McAllister, director of policy and strategy, spoke at an informational hearing of the California Assembly's Select Committee on California's Clean Energy Economy on Aug. 4, during a session on clean energy job growth and state policies on energy efficiency. You can watch the entire hearing online. Click here

Employee Spotlight

Mitch Moore
Brand Manager
Energy Upgrade California

Mitch Moore works on Energy Upgrade California™ strategic planning, brand management, collateral and messaging, primarily for residential energy efficiency and energy upgrades.

Moore has more than 20 years experience in consumer marketing, focused on sales, branding, new product introductions and the consumer experience. Prior to joining CCSE, he was employed at bds marketing, where he created and launched programs on renewable energy, energy efficiency and ENERGY STAR products at retail stores and events.

He has also owned his own marketing/consulting company, 20 Marketing, for new green product launches and has worked at several marketing firms. He has extensive experience training marketing and sales representatives.

Moore has a bachelor's degree in advertising from Michigan State University.

Monthly Tip

Help your air conditioner stay cool – Without blocking airflow, plant trees or shrubs around your outdoor air conditioning unit. A shaded unit uses up to 10 percent less electricity than it would in the sun.

CCSE Is Hiring

Current green job openings:

• BetterBuildings Program Assistant - Community Outreach Coordinator

• Government Affairs Manager

• Associate Program Manager – Energy Upgrade California

• Mobile Marketing and Outreach Coordinator

• Senior Marketing Manager

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

Green Job Seekers –
In addition to viewing available green jobs, you can now post your resume to CCSE's online Green Career Network. Whether you are looking to find a job or fill one, we have the resources you need.

Notable Quotable

“"What we need to do is really improve energy efficiency standards, develop in full-scale renewable and alternative energy and use the one resource we have in abundance, our creativity."

- Alon Tal, professor, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev

Stand for Less