In the past year, several public and not-for profit organizations on the Central Coast have independently developed and offered building electrification advisor/concierge services available to their own customers and/or jurisdiction.  These services exist to help customers or residents find and access information, resources, and support to electrify their homes. While these services are all attempting to address similar barriers facing residents and/or contractors, they are all doing so in unique ways and with different resources. In this presentation, you will hear about what these various services offer to customers and contractors, how their design, implementation, and promotion compare to one another, and what impacts they’ve had since being launched. Just as importantly, speakers will share lessons learned and best practices and discuss potential changes and improvements to their services in the future.

Speakers

Gray Gautereaux (Panel Facilitator/Moderator)
Gray Gautereaux (they/them) is a Green Buildings Analyst with the City of San Luis Obispo and has years of experience delivering energy programs, outreach campaigns, and support services for residents and municipalities seeking green building solutions in the Central Coast. Gray has served in project management roles for SLO Climate Coalition and the Tri-County Regional Energy Network, and holds a Graduate Certificate in Renewable Energy from the University of Nevada, Reno.
 

Xico Manarolla
Xico is the Electrification Program Manager for Clean Power Alliance. He oversees programs to pursue electrification reach codes, provide guidance to home and small business electrification projects, provide AC coupons to income-qualified customers, and supports local workforce development. He brings more than 20 years of experience
in responsible purchasing, climate action planning, and GHG accounting from positions at consulting firms Kim Lundgren Associates and PMC, and as a Senior Programs Officer at ICLEI USA. Xico earned an M.P.P. in Environmental Policy from the University of Maryland and B.A. in English and Philosophy from St. Mary’s College of Maryland.


Stephanie Holmes
Stephanie Holmes is an Energy & Climate Specialist for the City of Santa Barbara. She implements Santa Barbara Clean Energy’s customer-facing programs including the Residential EV Program and the Home Electrification Accelerator Program. Stephanie also serves as a Home Electrification Advisor and helps residents transition from fossil fuel appliances to efficient, all-electric alternatives. Prior to her work with the City of Santa Barbara, she spent two years as a CivicSpark fellow with the City of Goleta’s Sustainability Division developing and implementing their single-use plastic reduction regulations.


Eric Veium
Eric has been working for over 20 years to create a vibrant, just, and climate-resilient Central Coast. Eric is a founding member and Board Chair for the SLO Climate Coalition, an organization serving San Luis Obispo County that brings together community expertise, creativity, and resources to champion high-impact regional climate solutions. Eric is also the innovator and current program Director of SLO Climate Coalition’s new Home Energy Advising Service. Eric is an experienced energy engineer, real estate investor, and policy strategist who has worked across public, private, and nonprofit sectors in renewable energy, energy efficiency, and climate resilience.

Itzel Torres
Itzel Torres was born and raised in South Oxnard in an immigrant household that shaped her lifelong commitment to community and equity. After earning her degree in Urban Planning at UC Berkeley and gaining experience in historic preservation in San Francisco’s Mission District, she returned home as a CivicSpark Fellow and began her career with the Tri-County Regional Energy Network (3C-REN). As a Program Specialist, Itzel supports a broad range of initiatives at 3C-REN. One of her roles is serving as the Home Energy Concierge, where she helps residents navigate the complex landscape of energy incentives. She is especially committed to making sure that disadvantaged and hard-to-reach communities are not left behind and are able to benefit from energy-efficient homes.