Sacramento Energy Corps Brightens Lives, Lights on Retrofit Projects

A year ago, Eugene Kalinovsky couldn’t tell you the difference between a ballast, a tombstone, or a baffle. Now, he’s not only relied upon by others but is looking forward to a career in the energy industry. Eugene is among the several dozen California Conservation Corpsmembers making a difference in their community, improving California’s environment, and developing marketable job skills.

“When I first joined the CCC, I went to people who were here the longest and learned from them,” Eugene said. “I took all the knowledge I could get from them, from our trainings and supervisors, and I think I’m pretty good at doing these lights.”

Eugene works at the CCC Sacramento Energy Center where he and his fellow Corpsmembers have replaced thousands of lights this year as part of a retrofitting project with Sacramento City Unified School District. The crews have completed work at nine SCUSD schools so far.

“We’ve mainly done middle schools and elementary schools, always in disadvantaged communities,” he said. “We know that we’re impacting the community and saving schools a lot of money and reducing carbon emissions into the atmosphere.”

Four days a week, Corpsmembers line up outside their office in Sacramento’s River District ready to go to work in or near the very same communities where they live. By the end of their 10-hour shifts, dozens of lights have been converted from energy demanding fluorescent tubes to more efficient LEDs.

“My favorite part is definitely when we’re done with the classrooms and they’re extremely brighter than what they were when we came in,” said Akayla Jones. “It really feels great just making a difference. This isn’t just doing something for the community, it’s going to be for the whole world.”

Sacramento Energy Center Crew 1 walks to project site classrooms with gear and supplies.

The CCC Energy Corps is funded through the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund to help reduce California’s carbon footprint. A majority of Energy Corps projects take place in disadvantaged communities at schools, courthouses, and government and non-profit buildings. The Energy Corps is not just a chance for Corpsmembers to make difference in their community, but to improve their own futures.

“I needed my high school diploma,” Eugene said. “I did it in about four months. That’s the main reason why I joined, plus I wanted to get into energy work. I recently did solar training with the CCC and I’m probably going to get into that or an apprenticeship for electrical work.”