Today, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom announced a big boost in funding for the city’s commercial and multi-family residential energy efficiency program, SF Energy Watch. The program offers free on-site assessments of energy savings, installation at a greatly reduced cost, and covers lighting, refrigeration, heating, air conditioning, food service equipment, and more.

“SF Energy Watch provides jobs for the green collar workforce of San Francisco and the Bay Area,” said Mayor Newsom. “As we move forward, energy efficiency will be increasingly important and in the national mainstream thanks to President Obama and his advocacy on the issue. I want to ensure that San Francisco has the base of workers to meet the need.”

The additional funding in the amount of $3.7 million, will be added to the initial SF Energy Watch funding of nearly $11 million and the $3 million added late in 2008 by the California Public Utilities Commission.

In addition to the 150 green collar jobs the program already supports, vendors anticipate hiring an additional 30 employees based on the newly available funds.

“The Energy Watch program is exactly the type of investment we need at this moment,” said Julian McQueen, Field
Organizer for the Van Jones-founded Green for All. “This program is a model for other cities because it puts folks to work right now, and puts money back in the pockets of small, local businesses. This type of bold action will lead us out of the economic crisis.”

To date, SF Energy Watch has delivered 6 megawatts of energy efficiency savings, enough electricity to power over 6,000 San Francisco residences. With the additional funds, the program aims to capture another 3 megawatts of
energy efficiency.

Mayor Newsom made the announcement today at Lombardi Sports in San Francisco. Lombardi is one of 1,500 businesses to take advantage of the program, and after retrofits they are saving nearly $3,000 per month on their energy bill.

Image: Don Fulano