Since 1995, the Rising Sun Center for Opportunity in California has trained over 3,000 young people for jobs in energy efficiency.
With a focus on placing young women, people of color, and formerly incarcerated individuals in renewable energy careers, the nonprofit also gives back to the surrounding community by offering “green house calls” to neighbors.
After visiting these homes and asking a few simple questions, the young employees are then able to offer energy efficiency and water conservation services, including LED light bulbs, power strips, weather stripping products, and water-saving devices.
And they do it all for free.
“We use this no-cost service that we provide to the community as a vehicle to provide the youth earn and learn experience and career exposure,” senior program manager Sofia Canela Torres told Yale Climate Connections.
In June of 2025, the center announced that it was expanding its climate careers program to 13 counties in the San Joaquin Valley, Monterey Bay Area, and Eastern Sierra.
Image via Jimmy Aaja
“Central California communities — and in particular rural communities — have often been overlooked and underinvested in when it comes to programs that reduce utility bills,” said Rising Sun President and CEO Julia Hatton.
“This region has been a priority for Rising Sun for over a decade, and we’re honored to be able to partner with the CCR REN to provide our energy efficiency services and youth employment opportunities for many more local, rural residents.”
A version of this article originally appeared in the 2026 Home Edition of the Goodnewspaper.
Header image via Jimmy Aaja
