A County energy program is holding a series of free, dinner workshops on the North Coast to educate homeowners about ways to affordibly increase their home energy efficiency. EmPower San Luis Obispo County is hosting workshops in Morro Bay, Los Osos, Cambria and Cayucos, (the Second Supervisorial District) and attendees can sign up for a home site visit and hear about common issues that lead to higher energy bills, such as the condition of the heating system, ventilation and air conditioning systems, insulation, water heaters and other major appliances. They will also learn about utility incentives and low-interest, unsecured financing that are available to complete qualifying energy-efficient projects.

Workshops are: Wednesday,  April 22, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Morro Bay Recreation Center, 1001 Kennedy Way; Tuesday, April 28, 5:30-7:30 South Bay Community Center, 2180 Palisades Ave., Los Osos; Wednesday, May 5, 5:30-7:30 Coast Union High School, 2950 Santa Rosa Creek Rd., Cambria; and, Friday, May 7 5:30-7:30 Cayucos Elementary School, 301 Cayucos Dr.

The emPower program offers voluntary incentives, financing and other services to help single-family homeowners in Santa Barbara, Ventura and San Luis Obispo counties make home energy upgrades easier and more affordable. EmPower is funded by California utility ratepayers and administered by Southern California Gas Co., Southern California Edison and PG&E under the auspices of the Public Utilities Commission, the U.S. Department of Energy’s Better Buildings Program and the California Energy Commission with American Recovery and Reinvestment Act monies. And emPower’s low cost financing is offered in partnership with Coast Hills Credit Union and Ventura County Credit Union. Get more information at: www.empowersbc.org. To RSVP, see: www.empowersbc.org/news-events/upcoming-events.