More information about this year’s recipients can be found below:

Gloria Castillo with Alianza del Canal has gone above and beyond her role as the Housing Project Coordinator with the Canal Alliance, a nonprofit organization that empowers immigrants by connecting them to resources in the Canal District of San Rafael. Ms. Castillo’s work has built support for MCE’s programs at the Marin Villa Estates property, where she partnered with MCE staff on survey collection and income-verification visits at the property. Thanks to Gloria’s assistance, Marin Villa Estates received over $55,200 in blended funding from MCE’s Multifamily Energy Savings Program, the Low-Income Families and Tenants (LIFT) program, the Income-Qualified Multifamily Solar Rebate Program, and Green and Healthy Homes Initiative (GHHI) Marin.

These incentives funded a 30+ kilowatt solar system generating nearly 49,600 kilowatt hours annually, electrical panel upgrades, structural improvements to apartment decks, carbon monoxide monitors, and energy-efficiency measures like Title 24-compliant windows, LED light bulbs, and low-flow faucets and showerheads. These upgrades reduced fire hazards, increased structural safety, lowered utility bills, improved indoor air quality, and increased residents’ comfort. The energy-efficiency measures are projected to save nearly 3,400 kilowatt hours of energy per year.

National Council for Jewish Women (NCJW) and Sustainable Rossmoor jointly helped nearly 40 residents in the Rossmoor retirement community exercise their power of choice and opt up to MCE Deep Green 100% renewable energy. Together, NCJW and Sustainable Rossmoor have been present at over 10 community meetings, including farmers markets, the Activities Council of Rossmoor, Democrats Club meetings, and the Rossmoor Newcomers club. In addition to attending these community meetings and speaking to residents, the team also created their own Deep Green T-Shirts, and wrote and produced a song titled “Why MCE,” that lists the attributes of 100% renewable energy.