About Us

SSMC’s Energy Ambassador Program educates homeowners on home energy efficiency as it relates to behaviors, electricity usage, and the building envelope.  In order to do this, we take a “top-down” approach to make sure homeowners recognize all aspects of home energy efficiency.  The program has three components we use to engage homeowners; a Personal Energy Review, invitation to attend an Energy Ambassador Party, and hosting an Energy Ambassador Party.  The ultimate goal of the program is for homeowners to take steps in each area of energy efficiency while helping to educate their friends and neighbors through the Energy Ambassador party.

The Energy Ambassador Party applies a "Tupperware party" approach to education on the health, comfort, and energy efficiency issues of a homes physical condition. The goal is to ask homeowners to demonstrate leadership within their community on this important endeavor towards reducing our energy usage.

How it Works:
SSMC has partnered with home performance contractor SolarCity. Through this partnership we work with homeowners who are interested in investing in energy efficient home performance upgrades to share their experience and use their home as a case study to increase awareness.

Interested in hosting or coming to a party? Click here to send an email to the program director.  

Our partners:
We have chosen partners for this program who have demonstrated a positive track record with their customers as well as a commitment to training their staff to meet and exceed the requirements set forth by the state.

SolarCity www.solarcity.com

Check out their Home Efficiency Package

-a special offer through Sustainable San Mateo County

Our staff and interns:

Adrienne Etherton, Administrator & Program Manager

Adrienne first became involved with Sustainable San Mateo County as an intern.  Her passion for sustainability and continual quest for knowledge make her a great fit for the organization.  She graduated with honors from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a B.S. in Industrial Engineering.  After moving to the Bay Area she became interested in sustainability, studying Photovoltaics and Environmental Science, as well as many courses in energy efficiency and green building from PG&E.  She has earned both LEED AP and NABCEP Entry Level Solar certifications, and also studied Architecture at UC Berkeley's [IN]ARCH summer institute.  Adrienne is involved in all aspects of the organization, including development, event coordination, program management and office administration.

Michael Carpol, Volunteer Speaker

Michael Carpol has lived in San Carlos his whole life, besides his time at UCLA.  Michael first became involved with Sustainable San Mateo County as the Energy Ambassador Intern back in October 2009.  Michael has a deep passion and constant drive to understand energy.  He has studied photovoltaics, energy efficiency and green building through courses at PG&E.  He has earned NABCEP Entry Level Solar certification and has worked in the solar industry in the past. Michael has also experienced energy efficiency and solar upgrades in his own home in San Carlos.  Michael graduated from UCLA with a B.A. in Economics and minors in Public Policy and Environmental Studies.

Elena Gekker, Intern

Elena got involved with SSMC in January 2010 as a journalism intern and even after a short while she had no doubts about wanting to continue working with the organization and the great people that she had met in the process. By day, Elena is a full-time student at Notre Dame de Namur University as well as an Administrative Coordinator in the Clinical Psychology Department. This semester she is finishing up her double major in Political Science and History and a minor in Religious Studies. She hopes to continue her education next year and pursue an international law degree. Elena enjoys travel, writing and learning foreign languages as well as early mornings and vanilla soy cappuccinos. She is always interested in meeting new people and is always up for a coffee date.

Alex Thiers, Intern

Past Interns:

Michael Carpol, Adrienne Etherton, Mayu Yamamuru

Fernando Ramirez,   Kristin Chinn,   Stephen Dueck