Happy Energy Efficiency Day y’all! EE day can mean different things for different folks- so please take a look to see what it means for us here at the SJVCEO
Courtney Kalashian, Executive Director
The everything has its own day phenomenon annoys me. Sure, talk like a pirate, celebrate your son or daughter, love ice cream, but maybe do it just for yourself? Unless of course we’re talking about EE Day. Because energy efficiency deserves at least that month, probably more. It’s a known joke that I hold a grudge against my son for coming three weeks early and not being born an EE baby, because you know, if you’re about the life you live the life.
But seriously, why wouldn’t we embrace and celebrate something as sensible as energy efficiency and why does it only get a day? No. At SJVCEO we live this year-round.
The way I process says if something can be made easier, more effective and reduce my time/thought/cost then of course I should do it. Well folks, that’s energy efficiency! Do you want your HVAC systems to run more, cost more money, and wear out more quickly? No, of course you don’t. Energy efficiency is such an incredibly approachable way to address greater global issues. Now, here’s the deal—as an industry, as a country, as a people—we don’t share one ideology. At one point I called myself an energy efficiency evangelist but amended that to enthusiast because it’s not my job to push my beliefs on others. Even if those beliefs reduce their operating burden and year-over-year costs. My job is to hear people. To listen to my neighbors—whether it’s the lovely lady across the street wanting to know more about heat pump water heaters or my regional neighbor celebrating Oildorado in Taft—and help them make their space and indirectly our world better. Sure, I could push more progressive ideals, but those wouldn’t gain traction the same way simple cost savings does. In his failed run for President, Andrew Yang alluded to the fact that voters need a living wage so they can have the mental space to even start thinking about climate change. There’s truth in that. Largely, people have so many obligations and burdens that they can’t process the realities of how a climate crisis is going to impact them now, let alone far down their generational line. They can however understand that small adjustments…little tweaks to how they operate...can save them money. When you start relieving the financial burden on anyone you give them more space to think, to process, to do more.
Maybe that’s just me being pragmatic. Perhaps it’s as some claim and just playing it too safe. Or it’s just me living that EE life.
Samantha Dodero, Associate Executive Director
In 2021 news headlines are dominated by the COVID-19 pandemic and extreme weather events. Both top stories have a common means to a solution…energy efficiency and conservation. Therefore, this energy efficiency day let us highlight how many things in our daily lives can benefit from such action.
With a new administration in the White House, I hope that energy efficiency receives it time in the spotlight. Conserving energy does more than just lower a business’s/governments/residents utility bill it makes our community a better place for future generations. Let’s invest in action to benefit our schools, businesses, and society. Whether we like to admit it or not we all are connected more than we aren’t.
As I get older, I find myself not worrying about the day to day but more the future, say 20 years from now, and how my actions play a part. Sure, I champion energy conservation as that is my work, but I also am making strides to be more sustainable. In 2021 I am proud to say I invested in a plug-in hybrid vehicle, repurpose things I have at home as well as kicked plastic bags to the curb.
So, I leave you with this question. What would you do today that would make the world better for future generations?
Rochelle Butler, Energy Manager
Energy Efficiency Day is upon us, and I find myself reflecting on what Energy Efficiency truly means to me. Energy Efficiency was part of my life long before I understood what it was. Growing up, my family strongly believed in conserving energy, reusing, and recycling. However, my family did not do this in the interest of saving the environment, they did it in the interest of saving money. Knowing what I know now, I would consider them unwitting conservationists.
Fast forward some years later, I found myself working in the energy efficiency industry. I have enjoyed a 10+ year career working in many different facets of the energy efficiency field and one thing that all of those years have in common is that I have been able to connect with people through this work. Through the implementation of energy efficiency programs, I have had the opportunity to enter into community spaces I may not have otherwise had access to. I have enjoyed the opportunity to connect with many different people of different cultures and ethnicities, speaking different languages and with varying abilities. When I am out in communities promoting programs and services that help people, I also find myself sharing some of the energy conserving tips and ideas I learned from my family growing up.
If I had to boil down the concept of energy efficiency to a single meaning or concept, I would consider it a great equalizer. No matter your background or your motivations we all have a common goal and the only way to reach that goal is through energy efficiency. That goal is to right the course on climate. Our efforts will not only create a better place for everyone, but it will also create jobs and increase opportunities along the way.
Kelsey Jones, Project Coordinator
In honor of Energy Efficiency Day, I found myself struggling to pinpoint what a clean energy future means to me. It often seems like the scale is so large that it is hard to relate directly back to yourself. With efforts in climate change, sustainability, environmental justice, and so much more- clean energy/energy efficiency is making strong strides into our communities daily. I will admit, prior to working in the clean energy workforce, I did not know much about it. When I was going through high school and college, I did not even know that this industry was an option for me (but this is another issue that we can save for another time)! Alas, over the last (nearly) three years, I have come to the realization of how much energy efficiency can improve our lives today, tomorrow, and 30 years from now.
It may sound cliché, but energy efficiency has countless benefits that can make lifelong improvements to any person. Are you enduring some financial struggles? You can upgrade lighting fixtures in your house to help you save on your utility bill or you can enroll in a CARE or ESA program through your IOU. Wanting to contribute to the state’s goal of decreasing GHG emissions? You can receive a cash rebate for switching to an electric vehicle! Looking for a new career path that does not require 4+ years of school? Climate adaptive and energy efficiency careers can open hundreds of new local opportunities for you. Just from the examples above, you can engage with and promote energy efficiency in so many ways, but the result is always the same. These enhance the quality of life for each person that chooses to support EE in any capacity.
I think that given the current state of our world it is time to unify to make a difference. If you pledge to make one small change in your daily routine that can and will send waves throughout your community to encourage others to make a difference. The SJVCEO has the privilege of serving schools, cities, counties, and special districts across the state and each community is different that the next. But regardless of these differences, we can still join in EE actions make life better for ourselves and our neighbors. Here’s to a clean energy future in California and a Happy EE day!