Free Energy Saving Service Expands in Pittsburg; Bay Area program will Employ Pittsburg Youth for the Summer and Help Residents Save Money on Utility Bills

Pittsburg, CA – This summer even more Pittsburg residents will be able to “go green” by taking advantage of the popular California Youth Energy Services (CYES) program. CYES, a program of the nonprofit organization Rising Sun Energy Center, is a Bay Area summer youth employment and free energy efficiency retrofit program. Each summer Rising Sun trains Bay Area youth (15-22) and employs them to serve their communities with free Green House Calls. After a successful first summer in Pittsburg last year, CYES doubled its program with the support of the City of Pittsburg and Pittsburg Power Company. CYES staffed its Pittsburg office with professionally trained local youth, thereby boosting the area’s economy and creating a “green-collar job” career track.

At each Green House Call, the youth Energy Specialists educate the resident about energy saving behaviors, install free equipment that saves energy and water, and provide personalized recommendations for further savings in their home. The free service includes measurement of household water use and installation of showerheads and faucet aerators, which conserve water and energy while maintaining high water pressure. Energy Specialists provide free efficient compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) in exchange for old wasteful incandescent bulbs, and can offer a clothesline or powerstrip to reduce electricity bills. The youth teams also assess the attic for sufficient insulation and refer clients to Rising Sun’s attic subsidy program which can offer up to 70% off attic insulation for qualifying homes. In addition, residents receive a personalized energy and water conservation plan.

Not only does CYES help residents save energy and money, working for CYES also opens young people’s eyes to energy conservation and opportunities in the green economy. Myrella Morales is one example. “CYES has made me more aware of how I was using resources every day,” she explains. “It has also opened me up to all these options and all these new jobs that I didn't even know were out there. I'm excited about green jobs because it's starting to become a national thing… these jobs cannot be outsourced; they have to be done here, and they have to be done...period, because we are running out of resources….a greener life is going to be a more united life, and I think that's something that this nation needs.” Overall, the program provides much-needed jobs for youth in under-resourced areas, a free money-saving service to the community, and cuts pollution and global warming by saving energy.

The CYES 2010 program offered its first Pittsburg Green House Calls on July 7^th, 2010 and runs through August 13^th. The program’s reach is wider than Pittsburg: any Alameda, Contra Costa and Marin County resident can schedule a free Green House Call by:

· calling (510) 665-1501 ext 10

· checking out the website at www.risingsunenergy.org

· visiting the Rising Sun Energy Center head office at 1900 Addison St. Ste. 100 Berkeley, CA 94704

CYES welcomes partnerships with schools, homeowner and neighborhood associations, events, local and national businesses, and non-profit organizations. Please contact Rising Sun Energy Center to learn more!

###

Rising Sun Energy Center is an experienced green workforce development nonprofit that “Builds Healthy Communities through Climate Solutions and Green Career Pathways”.

California consumers are not obligated to purchase any full fee service or other service not funded by this program. This program is funded by California utility ratepayers under the auspices of the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC).

© 2010 Rising Sun Energy Center, 1900 Addison St. Ste. 100, Berkeley CA, 94704, 510-665-1501

Contact:
Heather Hochrein
(510) 665-1501 ext. 14
(510) 239-8955 (cell)
hochrein@risingsunenergy.org