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Welcome to the San Joaquin Valley Clean Energy Organization (SJVCEO). We are a non-profit located in the heart of California tasked and dedicated to leading the eight-county region that makes up the San Joaquin Valley. Our vision is to help improve the quality of life by significantly increasing the Valley's use and reliance on clean energy (energy efficiency and renewable energy sources).

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SJVCEO is hiring!


Position: Project Analyst, Full-Time
Location: Fresno, CA
Start Date: Immediately
Compensation: Based on experience
Benefits: Position is eligible for all company benefits, such as Health, Dental, 401K

Company Description:
The San Joaquin Valley Clean Energy Organization (SJVCEO), a non-profit 501 (c)3 corporation, dedicated to promoting the widespread use of clean energy resources and increasing energy efficiency through work with local governments, utilities, and community colleges.  The organization facilitates partnerships and implements programs that empower utility end-users (municipal governments, businesses, students and residents) to practice smart energy management. A key partnership facilitated by the SJVCEO is the Valley Innovative Energy Watch (VIEW).

The VIEW is a multidimensional municipal and community-focused energy efficiency program managed in partnership with Pacific Gas and Electric Company, Southern California Edison, The Gas Company and San Joaquin Valley local governments including: Avenal, Corcoran, Dinuba, Farmersville, Hanford, Lemoore, Lindsay, Porterville, Tulare, Visalia, Woodlake and the counties of Kings and Tulare.

Position Description:
The SJVCEO is seeking a full-time Project Analyst to support the implementation of the VIEW 2013-14 program initiatives throughout the San Joaquin Valley. The initiatives cover municipal energy retrofit project management, community outreach and education, and support for the development of city policies that fulfill the goals set forth in the California Long-term Energy Efficiency Strategic Plan. Essential to this position is the ability to work in a dynamic and diverse team environment to provide support and build relationships between utility representatives and municipal customers throughout the region. The Project Analyst will focus on implementing the municipal energy retrofit initiative and supporting Strategic Plan goals.

Key Responsibilities*:
·       Serve as a point-of-contact for municipal facility staff and utility account representatives.
·       Identify opportunities for comprehensive energy efficiency retrofit projects within municipalities.
·       Facilitate and track new and existing energy efficiency projects with municipal facility staff, utility account representatives and energy consultants.
·       Provide ongoing technical and project management support to local government and utility staff.
·       Prepare and present case studies of successful projects.
·       Serve as a technical resource for the SJVCEO team across multiple projects.
·       Assist in developing benchmarking policies and energy management solutions for municipalities.
·       Be proactive in identifying and responding to partner requests and needs.
·       Develop and maintain project tracking documents and databases.
·       Serve as a program representative at community outreach events.
·       Conduct presentations promoting energy efficiency, utility programs and case studies.
·       Provide comprehensive support to all SJVCEO activities as directed by Executive Director.

*Key responsibilities may change based on program contract modifications, Utility or CPUC direction.

Qualifications:
·       Bachelor’s degree with a minimum of 3 years of applicable work experience in the energy industry or related field.
·       Knowledge of facility energy systems and operations.
·       Familiarity with energy utility programs is preferred.
·       Strong project management skills.
·       Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
·       Intermediate to advance Microsoft Office skills are required.
·       Must be available to work outside of regular business hours.
·       Valid driver’s license and insurance.
·       Vehicle for travel throughout the San Joaquin Valley required.
·       Professional appearance and demeanor.
·       Passion for saving energy and the environment.

To Apply: Please send a resume, cover letter, writing sample, and salary history to:

The San Joaquin Valley Clean Energy Organization, Attn: Courtney Kalashian
Post: 4747 North First Street, Suite 140
Fresno, CA  93726
No calls please

  Posted on April 25, 2013 | 4:23 pm

Wellness Wednesday: Spring has sprung!

Bulbs that needed relocating found a home in a pot. 
Hopefully they last! 
It’s been a while since I have updated everyone on my adventures in home ownership so I thought I would share what we have been up to as of late. When we first purchased our home back in October the yard was extremely overgrown. The past five months or so have been spent tearing down a rotted out structure and shed, ripping out overgrown and crowded shrubs and trees, and slowly gaining control of the plants we intend to keep. I recently fed our 20-plus rose bushes and relocated some of the never-ending supply of bulbs like daffodils, irises, hyacinth, surprise lilies and summer snowflakes. Spring has most definitely sprung and our yard will soon look like an Easter basket explosion – no complaints here since the tidying up process has prevented us from planting the flowers, fruits, and vegetables of our choosing. I like to call our yard ‘the secret garden’ because everywhere I look there’s a new plant I failed to see the time before. My most recent discovery were the three avocado trees (plus the shoots of a million other avocado trees at the base of the full-grown ones) and the two or three apricot trees. YUM! Those should hold me over until I can begin my raised edible garden. 

This beast of a plant took forever to get up!
An edible garden has me so excited that I often find myself smiling and wandering aimlessly at Gazebo Gardens. Like I said, it won’t be a while until that project gets off the ground but it is an important project to me. Health is my main priority (hence Wild Ginger Wellness) because if you don’t have your health you can’t enjoy life to the fullest. Good nutrition is the springboard for good health and one of my greatest passions is experimenting in the kitchen. I recently whipped up the most delicious arugula and kale pesto (to go atop my homemade pizza dough along with zucchini, tomato, and creamy goat cheese) and can only imagine how much more satisfying it will taste when the ingredients come from my own backyard. 


kale-argula pesto
Homegrown (or simply locally grown for those who do not have or do not want to have a green thumb) foods are not only more nutritious for you but they are also better for the environment. The farther a food has to travel the less nutrient dense it will be by the time it reaches you. Additionally, the farther a food has to travel the more petroleum (i.e. gasoline) that will be required to transport the food from the farm to the processing plant, packaging plant, grocery store, and finally your home. An incredible amount of energy and greenhouse gases are expended every single step of the way. The less effort and energy that is required to get food to your plate, the better for you, me and the environment. 

While my yard is only likely to produce a few ingredients here and there this coming spring and summer, I will take what I can get (and hopefully make loads of guacamole) and in the meantime I will look forward to what the future holds!

  Posted on April 10, 2013 | 10:00 am

EE Tip From Fig & Olive: Paper or Plastic?


Fig says, "In our house we choose paper over plastic. Why? We find it is easier, safer and healthier for our household to re-purpose the paper bags as opposed to the plastic ones. Case in point: paper bag forts are amazing and after I get bored we can recycle them."




  Posted on April 5, 2013 | 1:37 pm

Growing a Greener Grass



The sorry state of my front and back lawn and the warmer temperatures have me researching the best ways to organically fertilize and grow grass so our house can look nice and tidy come spring and summertime. What kind of grass did you think I was talking about? I choose organic and to avoid pesticides for my health and the health of our environment. I found some tips here that I plan to implement.
Photo source: www.twomotivate.com

What do you do around your garden to protect your health and air quality, save water, and save energy? We are all in this together and even the smallest of efforts add up!  

  Posted on March 29, 2013 | 10:00 am

Energy Efficiency in March Madness

My brackets were busted before the first point was scored in March Madness 2013. My commissioner failed me and The Hulk Hogan Hair Club for Men (don't judge me by the company I keep) failed to host a pick'em pool.  Apparently traveling for work trumped getting the group page up and going, and there were promises up to the 11th hour that there would be a pool, yet here I sit--at my desk late in March with no score feeds downsized on my computer screen for the first time in 12 years.  Hell, there are games on right now--AND I'M WORKING!  All is not right with the world.

The most exciting thing I have going for me is our friends over at the Alliance to Save Energy came up with the EE Eight, the eight most energy efficiency campuses in the NCAA tournament.  I would not have chosen any of these to go to the Big Dance, but it's a nice list all the same.

For the record I would have seated Gonzaga and Louisville--I always send Gonzaga beyond where a reasonable person should and I don't even have  good cause for it, but this year--THIS YEAR! they're going in ranked #1 in the West. As for Louisville, well come on now, wouldn't you? Oh wait...you probably did and you're probably loving it.

Photo Credit: Gonzaga University

  Posted on March 28, 2013 | 10:00 am