By Gary Walker

Culver City property owners will soon have an extra incentive to join the burgeoning green movement that can help them save money in the long term.

The Culver City City Council passed a resolution Monday, June 28 that will allow property owners to participate in the Los Angeles County Energy Program.

Approximately 90% of Culver City’s housing units were built prior to 1978, when energy efficiency standards were enacted, according to a city staff report. The information was culled from American Factfinder Census data.

That was one of the reasons why city officials decided to join the program and allow its residents to participate, said Public Works management analyst Helen Kerstein.

“Our housing units are older than many in the county,” said Kerstein. “That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but it does (spotlight) the fact that many of them do not have (up to date) insulation and other things that can make the unit conserve energy in a more efficient way.”

City Councilman Andrew Weissman said he was proud that he and his colleagues saw the potential benefits that the county initiative can provide. “The wisdom of the council in approving the resolution will allow our residents and property owners to take advantage of a program that has incentives to become energy efficient,” he said.

The county’s short-term goals include creating 1,600 home energy retrofit jobs and 1,000 ancillary jobs and retrofitting 15,000 homes, a 20% energy reduction. Long term, county officials are seeking to retrofit 80% of buildings to achieve 30% countywide energy reduction by 2015 and supporting greenhouse gas reduction by 25% below 1990 levels by 2015, according to the county’s energy program and city participation plan.

Kerstein said there is also a financial incentive to take part in the energy plan. “Some of these improvements can  save citizens money in the long run,” the management analyst noted. “Combined with rebates that the county and state offer for certain programs, that can be a very powerful incentive to join the program.”

Homeowners like Meghan Sahli-Wells, who has publicly advocated for increased green standards, thinks the resolution has the potential to get more property owners involved in making their homes more sustainable. “What’s good about this is that it creates awareness,” she said.

Weissman said there are several factors to consider for those who are considering joining the voluntary program. “It provides an opportunity that would otherwise not be available to many residents,” he noted. “There is also the possibility of a cost savings, as well as becoming more energy efficient.

“And it’s also good for the environment,” the councilman added.

Kerstein also touched on the fact that the county government is in a much better position, given the financial implications of the program, to fund the initiative. “In terms of the city, I don’t think we have the resources to set up our own program,” she acknowledged.

Sahli-Wells thinks city officials should announce the program at popular and well-attended municipal venues, like Fiesta La Ballona and the Summer Music Concert Series. “Outreach is very important for energy and conservation (matters),” she said. “These are places that a lot of people attend. And last year at Fiesta, we had a Green Booth and I believe we’ll have it again this year.

“That would be an ideal place to have literature about the county program,” Sahli-Wells recommended.

Kerstein said Culver City, like many other cities throughout California, is creating the building blocks for sustainability and offering its residents the chance to save money and conserve energy is one way of moving toward that goal.

“We have a very environmentally-conscious community, and this is another avenue that property owners can utilize to make their lives and their homes more efficient,” Kerstein said.

The program is slated to begin in September. Interested property owners may contact Public Works.