Bay Localize is pleased to launch the Green Faith in Action Project, which is piloting new ways to make quality energy efficiency services accessible to households of all income levels. Residential energy efficiency audits and upgrades are a cost-effective strategy to reduce energy use, save households money, help cities reach climate action goals, and promote community development and local green jobs.

We're partnering with Rising Sun Energy Center and its California Youth Energy Services (CYES) program, the Green Energy Training Services (GETS) program (a partnership between Rising Sun and RichmondBUILD), and faith communities in Marin and Richmond. We will be closely monitoring this program, which encourages households to make their homes more comfortable, while reducing utility bills and greenhouse gas emissions.

One unique aspect of the project provides recent graduates of the CYES and GETS programs the opportunity to gain hands-on job experience, while offering free services to moderate-income families. Often moderate-income families can't afford these services on the open market, nor do they qualify for subsidized programs. Even in its initial stages, this program is already being replicated by the City of Berkeley with plans for city-wide implementation in early 2010.

Thanks goes to the Frank Levinson Fund at the Silicon Valley Community Foundation for sponsoring this program.

Contact: Linda Currie, Energy Efficiency Organizer, linda [at] baylocalize [dot] org