California Center for Sustainable Energy

SAN DIEGO, Calif. (September 2, 2010) - San Diegans can learn about energy efficiency, solar power, electric cars, home energy retrofitting and a host of other green and sustainable lifestyle choices during Sustainable Energy Week, Sept. 12 – 18. The week features special events, tours, a family fun day and a cutting-edge energy conference presented by the California Center for Sustainable Energy.

Sustainable Energy Week will get under way with Family Energy Day featuring Street Smart San Diego from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 12, at the center’s facilities at 8690 Balboa Avenue in Kearny Mesa. This free event focuses on money-saving energy tips and sustainable products and the newest electric and alternative fuel vehicles. There will be live entertainment on the solar-powered stage, mini-workshops, sustainable local food, games and more than fifty vendors with the latest in energy solutions for your home. Among the bands playing are Cajun zydeco performers Billy Lee and the Swamp Critters.

Highlights of Street Smart include meeting celebrity race car driver Leilani Münter, known as Carbon Free Girl, who brings environmental awareness to NASCAR. You can also preview and test drive some of the newest pre-market plug-in cars, such as the Nissan Leaf, Toyota Plug-In Prius, Think, Chevrolet Volt and Tesla Roadster. Plus kids can drive solar-powered mini-cars, scooters, Sony’s Eneloop electric bike and more. There will also be free food and great prizes, including a drawing for a $9,800 Vaillant solar water heating system installed by Adroit Solar, an Eneloop bike valued at $2,449 and other high-value prizes.

Two days of Clean Energy Commercial Tours will take participants to view some of the most sophisticated and advanced high-performance buildings in San Diego on Tuesday, Sept. 14, and Wednesday, Sept. 15. The tour will showcase the latest energy-efficient and renewable energy technologies, including San Diego’s first LEED-certified hotel.

The Clean Energy Conference will bring some of the nation’s leading energy experts to San Diego on Thursday, Sept. 16, at the San Diego Convention Center. Representatives from industry, government, academia and the nonprofit sector will offer insights and predictions on topics including solar power, energy savings for businesses, energy behavior, energy storage, wind power, smart grid, utility-scale renewable energy and much more.

The conference’s plenary session will focus on the state of clean energy in California with speakers including commissioners Nancy E. Ryan of the California Public Utilities Commission and Robert Weisenmiller of the California Energy Commission. Throughout the day, there will be sixteen workshop sessions, a green jobs information center and a networking reception.

The California Center for Sustainable Energy is proud to present Sustainable Energy Week with the support of our sponsors led by San Diego Gas & Electric, Qualcomm, Nissan Leaf, Sullivan Solar Power, Cox Conserves, Pure Water Technology, Everyday Energy, GroSolar, California Commercial Asphalt, Innergy Power, Kyocera, Aerotek, Reno Contracting, Valliant Solar Systems, Adroit Solar and Go Solar, California!

The California Center for Sustainable Energy is a nonprofit organization that helps San Diegans adopt greener practices and save energy and money through rebates, technical assistance and education, including hundreds of workshops a year for homeowners and businesses.

For information and conference registration, go to www.sustainableenergyweek.org or call (858) 244-1177.