Solar Week Wraps Up in San Diego

SAN DIEGO, Oct. 3 /PRNewswire/ -- The 2nd Annual Solar Energy Week,
hosted by the nonprofit San Diego Regional Energy Office (SDREO), came to a
close this weekend, setting record attendance with more than 4,000
attendees, almost doubling the number of participants of the inaugural
Solar Energy Week in 2005. Following this summer's heat wave and the recent
announcement of the California Solar Initiative, local interest in solar
power continues to grow at an impressive rate. Solar Energy Week featured
four great events to help San Diegans learn about how they can implement
solar power in their homes, make cleaner energy choices and help alleviate
the effects of global warming.
  "San Diego is the ideal place for people to take advantage of the
energy the sun provides, and the record turnout we had for Solar Energy
Week's activities proves that people in this region are truly interested in
making a change with solar power," said Irene M. Stillings, SDREO Executive
Director. "As locals continue to learn about solar power and the rebate
opportunities that exist, I think they will really embrace this opportunity
to reduce their energy bills and help the environment by making changes in
the way they power their homes."
  On Sunday, September 24, Family Solar Energy Day kicked off Solar
Energy Week, with more than 400 people in attendance -- double that of last
year's event. Activities included solar powered car races, educational
presentations and a sun drawing contest, in addition to solar oven baking,
a solar heating display, plus free food and drinks. San Diego County
Supervisor Pam Slater-Price and Commissioner John Geesman from the
California Energy Commission also made brief presentations to an
enthusiastic crowd.
  The Commercial Solar Tour, a guided bus tour of three major San Diego
companies showcasing various state-of-the-art solar installations, sold out
three weeks prior to the tour, which took place on Tuesday, September 26.
San Diego State University's Physics Building, QUALCOMM Inc.'s Building Q,
and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 569
Headquarters and Union Hall were featured on the Tour, demonstrating how
local companies and organizations are helping the environment and setting a
positive example by utilizing solar power.
  The Solar Energy Conference, held at the University of San Diego on
Wednesday, September 27, brought in more than 500 attendees, making it the
largest such event ever held in Southern California and almost doubled the
number of people from last year's conference. The conference proved to be a
valuable event for all attendees, featuring an impressive range of local
and national solar and government experts discussing a variety of topics
from the basics of how solar energy works to high-level discussions on
renewable energy credits and solar legislation. Twenty vendors also showed
off the latest technologies both indoors and outdoors under the sun.
  The grand finale of Solar Energy Week was the 7th Annual Solar Homes
Tour, which took place on Saturday, September 30. More than 30 homes
participated in the tour, offering San Diego County residents a rare
glimpse into homes with solar electric installations and solar pool and
water heating systems. SDREO estimates that more than 2,500 people attended
this year's tour to learn how solar can save them money on their home
energy bills, improve the environment, mitigate climate change and reduce
fossil fuel dependence.
  QUALCOMM, Inc., SDG&E, the County of San Diego and Supervisor
Slater-Price all pledged substantial support for Solar Energy Week, helping
make it such a success. Major sponsorship also came from BP Solar, Kyocera
Solar and Independent Energy Solutions. Additional sponsors included Sanyo,
Unisolar, Powerlight, Renewable Technologies Inc., and the San Diego
Electrical Training Center (IBEW).
  The San Diego Regional Energy Office (SDREO) is an independent,
nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation that helps residents, businesses and public
agencies save energy, reduce grid demand and generate their own power
through a variety of rebate, technical assistance and education programs.
SDREO also provides the community with objective information, research,
analysis and long-term planning on energy issues and technologies. For more
information, visit our website at http://www.sdenergy.org or call us toll
free at 1-866-SDENERGY.