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Note: this page is for organizations, cities, and other potential partners. It explains the structure, funding, and details of the GETS Energy Services social enterprise. If you're a homeowner looking for an energy upgrade, click here!

 

GETS Energy Services is a social enterprise offering subsidized energy upgrades to moderate income Berkeley and Richmond residents through a partnership between the City of Berkeley, the City of Richmond and Rising Sun Energy Center, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.  The goal is to help lower utility bills by making homes more comfortable, healthy, durable, and energy efficient while providing on-the-job training for graduates of Rising Sun’s Green Energy Training Services (GETS) workforce development program.

 

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GETS Energy Services can provide energy upgrades at low-or-no-cost because the teams who provide the work are recent graduates of the GETS program. This gives GETS graduates a valuable opportunity to apply what they have learned in the classroom in the “real world”, thereby garnering the practical experience employers are looking for.

 

GETS Energy Services receives funding from:

• The cities of Richmond and Berkeley, who are contributing money they were awarded from the American Recovery and Relief Act (the "stimulus bill"), because GETS Energy Services will save energy and employ jobseekers in their cities.
• The California Public Utilities Commission, through the Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), provides funding via large subsidies based on energy saved. These subsidies reduce the final cost to the consumer.

The GETS Energy Services social enterprise allows Rising Sun Energy Center to meet several goals simultaneously:

• Provide Energy Upgrades to the moderate income market.
• Assist local governments in reaching their Climate Action Plan (CAP) goals.
• Provide GETS graduates with valuable green job work experience.
• Increase the public's awareness of Building Performance and Energy Upgrading.

GETS Energy Services will provide 75-90 energy upgrades in Berkeley and 25 in Richmond, over the course of the two years between August 2010 and August 2012. Rising Sun has partnered with New Foundry Ventures (formerly Rubicon National) to expand this service to other communities.

GETS Energy Services provides energy upgrades to moderate-income homeowners only. Low-income homeowners currently qualify for free weatherization programs from local government and utility companies, while higher income residents can hire Building Performance professionals to perform the work at market rates.

GETS Energy Services will hire three to five graduates of the GETS program for three-month periods. These part-time hourly positions, beginning at $18.00 an hour, will provide graduates with crucial field experience. We are excited to be the first ‘green’ employer for individuals embarking on a long and fruitful career in the green sector.

 

The GETS Program Director will handle the reporting, application processing, scheduling and serve as the liaison with the cities. The GETS Energy Services Director is responsible for day-to-day operations of the warehouse, leading the crews, pulling permits and generating the HERS reporting.

 

GETS Energy Services will use building performance principles and techniques to provide its energy upgrades, including but not limited to:

Test-In/Test-Out

C-10 Certification for attic insulation

R30 - R38 attic insulation

Crawlspace vapor barrier

Air sealing: Attic

Air sealing: Weather-stripping Door

Air sealing: Caulking

Air sealing: Cover Plates replace

Air sealing: Gaskets for Cover Plates

Air sealing: Fireplace damper and doors (both) or permanent sealing

Air sealing: Expanding foam patch

Air sealing: Threshold repair/replace

Air sealing: Wall repair (interior and exterior)

Furnace filter cleaning/replacement

Showerhead 2.5 GPM or less

Faucet Aerators 2.0 GPM or less

Duct sealing and insulating, with performance test

Toilet of 1.2 GPF or less, or dual-flush toilets

CFL floor lamp swap for Halogen floor lamp

CFL (15 watt, 20 watt, 23 watt)

LED nightlight

Pipe Wrap

Powerstrip

Programmable thermostat

Retractable clothesline

Water Heater Blanket

Water Heater Replacement

Service: Automobile tire pressure check

Service: Energy Education, baseload analysis, bill analysis and explanation

Service: Combustion Appliance Safety Check (NGAT) + CVA

Service: Lead poisoning prevention check

Service: Refrigerator coil cleaning

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Interested in learning more? Contact George Kopf, GETS Program Director: by phone at (510) 665-1501 x17, via email, or by filling out the form below.