CONTACTS:

Terri Steele, San Diego Renewable Energy Society 858-220-3317; solartour@sdres.org Steve Schmidt, San Diego County Supervisor Dianne Jacob 619-206-9108; Steve.Schmidt@sdcounty.ca.gov

SAN DIEGANS TAKING IT TO THE STREETS OVER RISING ENERGY COSTS; SNEAK PEEK MEDIA TOUR OF MONEY-SAVING HOME IMPROVEMENTS THE AVERAGE HOMEOWNER CAN MAKE TO FIGHT BACK AGAINST ENERGY BILL INCREASES
WHEN: Tuesday, September 17th, noon September 21,10 am to 2 pm) WHAT:

to 12:30 pm

(The Tour is

Viewer sneak peek/media preview of the energy efficiency, solar improvements *the average homeowner* will be learning they can make to fight back against rising energy costs during the free Sept. 21 San Diego Sustainability Tour. Walk-through of Santees Energy Demonstration House, one of the Sweet 16 energy innovators featured among Saturdays free open house tours with narration by energy expert Ken Justo of ASI (the White Glove Guys) and San Diego County Supervisor Jacob, representing the many homeowners in sun-drenched San Diego smacked with higher utility bills this month. This Clark Kent of households was transformed into an energy superhero to showcase the simply things homeowners can do to slash energy costs and live more comfortably and sustainably and how to use it using

other peoples money! Energy savings on initial measures? 49.9%! It may not be as sexy as solar, but for every $1 saved on energy efficiency, folks save $3 on the cost of a solar solution. Its a reduce before you produce philosophy that compelled the San Diego Renewable Energy Society to rename its annual solar tour to the sustainability tour its the former solar tour but with more *energy*! Improvements include whole house air and attic sealing (why pay to heat and cool the great outdoors?), LED lighting and fixtures, Energy Efficiency appliances, high efficiency heating and AC, attic sealing and insulation, duct replacement, wall insulation, vinyl dual-paned windows and doors, fans, programmable thermostat, and, a solar PV system with microinverter technology. WHO: Ken Justo, Owner, ASI Hastings, Heating, Air and Solar Dianne Jacob, San Diego County Supervisor in sun-drenched District 2 The Energy Demonstration House, 9319 Van Andel Way, Santee, CA

WHERE: 92071

My home is so well ventilated and has such clean air, my children no longer have allergies Homeowner

WHY:

By now, San Diego homeowners county-wide have received letters warning of energy bill increases of up to 30%. The Energy Demonstration House shows exactly how even the most minor of home improvements can help citizens bottom line. AND these improvements keep home air cleaner and better ventilated and healthier for families. On September 21, San Diegans county-wide are taking it to the streets over rising energy costs. The path to immediate relief leads to ten highperformance households whose owners are showcasing a variety of energy efficiency and solar improvements that have them beating the heat while drastically lowering energy bills on the 13th San Diego Sustainability Tour. Free open house tours are from 10 am to 2 pm. Presented by the non-profit San Diego Renewable Energy Society (www.sdres.org), the free, Sept. 21 Sustainability Tour offers citizens the opportunity to see first-hand the improvements energy-savvy San Diegans are making to 1) slash utility bills, 2) increase property values and 3) fuel their vehicles, while talking to credible contractors about the costs and logistics behind the improvements. Solutions run the gamut from reduce before your produce philosophies capturing a comfortable mix of whole house efficiency solutions and energy upgrades like attic sealing and insulation, solar-powered attic fans, cool roof solutions and radiant floor heating to power production

solutions featuring geothermal heating and cooling, solar PV (solar electric), solar pool heating and for the do-it-yourselfers in the crowd -a new solar appliance that transforms traditional water heaters into veritable money-saving machines. Visitors can get energized by the in-home electric vehicle (EV) charging systems that have some homeowners vowing to run their all-electric vehicles on free energy from the sun for the rest of their lives. And for those curious about how solar works, a live solar PV installation in progress will occur in La Mesa, narrated by the East County Solar Guy, who plans on doing a bit of solar myth-busting throughout the day. Tours occur between 10 am and 2 pm in Alpine, Cardiff, Carlsbad, Chula Vista, Del Sur, Escondido, La Jolla, La Mesa, Santee and Scripps Ranch. To find a tour and get a glimpse of the solutions each site inspires, visit www.sdres.org. All are free and open to the public. The first 40 visitors at each site receive a free re-usable shopping tote and a sample of SolarRain, the Official Beverage of the San Diego Sustainability Tour. All qualifying tour-goers may register for a free, inhome water conservation kit (low-flow shower head and three faucet aerators), compliments of SDG&E.

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Terri Steele Director, San Diego Sustainability Tour (The San Diego Solar Tour, but with more energy!)

BE SUSTAINABLY INSPIRED! Join the San Diego Renewable Energy Societys 13th San Diego Sustainability Tour Commercial Open House Tour: Friday, September 20 Residential Open House Tour: Saturday, September 21 Host Site Applications, Sponsorship and Volunteer Opportunities Abound Email SolarTour@sdres.org or phone 858-220-3317

@SolarSavvy; @SanDiegoRES Brought to you by.