News

In 2025, Climate Careers — a groundbreaking program developed by Rising Sun Center for Opportunity (Rising Sun) and a current BayREN offering — celebrates 25 years of empowering youth with meaningful work opportunities while building a climate-resilient future. Originally launched as an initiative by and for youth, Climate Careers has grown into a model program at the intersection of equity, climate, and career development.

Public buildings are more than just infrastructure – they are symbols of opportunity and progress.

In January, Chef Rogelio Garcia from Auro taught us how to make huaraches with chorizo and queso panela on an induction cooktop. This recipe was taken from Chef Rogelio's book Convivir. 

In December 2024, BayREN launched its new Integrated Energy Services (IES) program designed to help local governments and special districts across the nine Bay Area counties meet their energy, resilience, and climate goals. With the region facing unprecedented environmental challenges, this new program offers essential support for municipalities looking to create sustainable, energy-efficient, and resilient public buildings.

California residents are increasingly finding opportunities to upgrade their homes for energy efficiency and electrification through regional, statewide, and federal rebate programs. However, high upfront costs continue to be one of the biggest barriers to home improvements. Small-scale pilot programs, such as the Pinole Energy Enhancement Rebate (PEER) program, offer an opportunity to address local needs with innovative solutions.

The soaring costs of electricity has many small businesses looking for ways to immediately cut costs.

BayREN has officially announced the conclusion of the Home+ Program, which has provided valuable energy efficiency resources to single-family homeowners across the Bay Area since 2019.

With labor and food costs soaring, even small overhead reductions can help restaurants stay afloat.

On a sunny Oakland street stands Saint Mary’s Gardens Apartments, an affordable housing community for seniors built in 1979.

BayREN initiated a redesign process in 2022 to better achieve the goals of health, comfort, safety, and savings through energy upgrades for these residents. BayREN’s Home+ program will sunset to introduce the new Efficiency and Sustainable Energy (EASE) Home program, which will offer moderate-income customers low-cost upgrades and expert guidance to simplify the process of improving home performance.