Solano Center for Business Innovation Launches Program to Reduce Homeowner Energy Costs and Create Jobs in Solano County

Online, January 5, 2012 (Newswire.com) - Partnering with Energy Upgrade California, Solano Center for Business Innovation (SCBI) created the Solano+ program to help Solano County homeowners upgrade their homes for energy efficiency. Working with partners such as Solar City and Green Environmental Technologies, SCBI's goal is to make 500 Solano County homes 40 percent more efficient while putting local contractors back to work.

Solano Center for Business Innovation's Executive Director Chuck Rieger said, "We guide homeowners through the process of applying for utility energy rebates, which start at $1,000 for 10% energy efficiency and run up to $4000 for 40% efficiency. We also help manage the process of upgrading a home by using certified contractors to carry out energy saving measures such as attic insulation, duct sealing, air sealing, and more. Additional savings can be obtained by adding solar and other alternative energy, roof and window improvements and there are various rebates and incentives for these as well."

The Solano+ program was developed last summer, and launched in December with Energy Audits for 6 homeowners in Benicia, Fairfield, Rio Vista, Vacaville, and Suisun.

Constance Beutel, a Benicia homeowner and member of the Benicia Community Sustainability Commission is one of the first six homeowners to jump on board with Solano+, "I'd been thinking about upgrading my home for several years, and now, with all of the incentives through the Energy Upgrade California/Solano+ programs, I knew this was the time to do it. My goal is to reduce energy costs and contribute to reducing carbon and greenhouse gases into our environment"

Roger Straw, a Benicia homeowner and retired Solano County Worker said he decided to participate in the program because of, "the incentives that Chuck (Rieger) explained, the thoroughness of the program, and specifically, the detailed analysis of costs going in and timeline for payoff. It just makes sense."

Energy Upgrade California is an unprecedented collaboration between the California Energy Commission, the Public Utilities Commission, utilities, local governments, non-governmental organizations and the private sector to promote and finance energy efficiency and renewable energy projects for homes and businesses, reduce energy use and help train contractors and building professionals. For more information contact: http://www.energyupgradeca.org.

Solano+ is a special extension of the EUC program, specifically for Solano homeowners that can greatly increase a home's energy efficiency and reduce energy bills through a variety of additional measures, with an emphasis on using Solano County contractors and suppliers.

Informational workshops about the energy efficiency programs and incentives for homeowners will be held in each of the seven Solano County cities throughout January.

The first workshop is in Benicia in the Council chambers at City Hall, 250 East L Street, Benicia on January 10 from 6:30-8:00 pm. You can pre-register at: http://eucbenicia.eventbrite.com/.

The second workshop will be at the Fairfield Community Center in Fairfield on Saturday January 14 from 1:30 pm - 3:00 pm at the Fairfield Community Center, 1000 Kentucky St, Lakeside Suite A.

The remaining workshops are scheduled for: January 17 in Suisun from 6:30-8:00 at the Community Center 611 Village Drive, January 18 in Rio Vista from 6:00-7:30 at the Fire Station at 350 Main Street, January 19 in Vacaville from 5:30-7:30 at the Ulatis Community Center, 1000 Ulatis Drive, and on January 24 in Dixon from 6:30-8:00 at the Dixon Fire Station, 205 Ford Way.

The workshops are free and open to any Solano County homeowner interested in learning more about taking advantage of rebates and incentives to make their homes more energy efficient.

"We think we have a winner. The homeowner gains far more energy efficiency and several small businesses benefit from the work," Chuck Rieger said.

For more information or reserve your seat for a workshop call the Solano Center for Business Innovation at: 707.861.0724 or visit: http://www.facebook.com/SolanoPlus.

About Solano Center for Business Innovation: The Solano Center for Business Innovation improves employment within the County by helping small businesses be more successful in growing revenue - and therefore jobs. This is accomplished by helping small businesses improve entrepreneurial and innovation skills. The Solano Center for Business Innovation is located at the EDC offices: 360 Campus Lane, Ste. 102 Fairfield, CA. Phone: 707.861.0724.