CCSE Residential Energy Roadshow Kicks Off 18-Month Program Demonstrating Benefits of Energy Efficiency, Renewable Energy and Alternative Fuels

SAN DIEGO (August 24, 2011) — The California Center for Sustainable Energy (CCSE) has partnered with ROUSH CleanTech, an industry leader in propane autogas technology, and Ferrellgas, a nationwide propane supplier, as a part of an 18-month mobile exhibit program highlighting residential energy efficiency and home improvements. The CCSE Residential Energy Roadshow, which kicks off August 26-28 at the San Diego Home, Hot Tub & Landscape Show, is designed to educate and inspire Southern Californians to learn about and implement energy-saving practices in home efficiency, solar technologies and alternative-fuel transportation.

“Thanks to generous donations from ROUSH CleanTech and Ferrellgas, hundreds of thousands of Californians will be able to learn about home energy efficiency, solar energy and the products and incentives available to them when visiting the mobile exhibit,” said Irene Stillings, CCSE executive director. “This is a perfect example of how multiple clean technologies can work together to demonstrate energy savings, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote more sustainable practices.”

Using a Ford F-250 pickup truck with the ROUSH CleanTech liquid propane autogas fuel system, CCSE will transport the exhibit to community events throughout San Diego, Riverside and San Bernardino counties. The truck will have access to Ferrellgas propane autogas stations for refueling at more than 200 locations in California alone.

The CCSE Residential Energy Roadshow is funded in part by the Department of Energy in support of the goals of its BetterBuildings Neighborhood Program and two California programs, Energy Upgrade California™ and Go Solar California! Various manufacturers and service providers have donated generously to the exhibit as well.

“Ferrellgas is proud to partner with the California Center for Sustainable Energy and ROUSH CleanTech to educate Californians about ways to save money and the environment by implementing energy efficiency solutions in their homes and at their businesses,” said George Koloroutis, president of Ferrell North America and senior vice president of Ferrellgas. “As the nation’s leading propane retailer, we’ve been doing just that for more than 70 years.”

Vehicles powered by propane autogas emit up to 24 percent fewer greenhouse gasses and 20 percent less nitrogen oxide, with significantly fewer particulates. All of this can help improve the air Californians breath and lower the emissions footprint of commercial fleets across the state. Historically, propane autogas costs 30 to 40 percent less than gasoline and requires less vehicle maintenance due to its clean-burning properties, making it an economical alternative as well.

“This is a great partnership that will showcase to Californians that propane autogas is the most readily deployable and flexible alternative fuel,” said Todd Mouw, vice president of sales and marketing for ROUSH CleanTech. “Propane autogas can immediately address air quality concerns for residents.”

The BetterBuildings Neighborhood Program supports forty competitively selected communities nationwide that are using innovation and investment in energy efficiency to expand the building improvement industry, test program delivery business models and create jobs with an emphasis on home energy improvement.

Energy Upgrade California is a California program designed to guide homeowners in making energy-efficient upgrades to reduce energy use, conserve natural resources and create more comfortable and efficient homes. Go Solar California! is the marketing campaign for the California Solar Initiative, an incentive program designed to encourage Californians to install 3,000 megawatts of solar energy systems on homes and businesses by the end of 2016 and 585 million therms of gas-displacing solar hot water systems by the end of 2017.  Energy Upgrade California and Go Solar California! are joint efforts of the California Energy Commission and the California Public Utilities Commission.

As the only organization in California concurrently administering aspects of all three energy programs and a variety of clean transportation initiatives, CCSE developed this mobile showcase to provide a one-stop information resource for homeowners to help them understand their options and make their energy decisions easier. The exhibit addresses a wide range of sustainability practices to save energy and money, such as capturing rainwater, insulating homes and using new lighting technologies.

More information, including a schedule of events, is available at http://www.energycenter.org/roadshow.