BayREN鈥檚 Efficiency and Sustainable Energy (EASE) Program launched in June 2025, bringing long-awaited energy efficiency upgrades to middle-income families across the Bay Area. Designed to meaningfully support local families, the program aims to improve health and comfort at home while covering 80% of the core weatherization and energy efficiency measures. For Ronald Andrew Catahimican, an Energy Advisor with the EASE Program, this work is deeply personal.
A Bay Area native, Ronald has completed over 100 home site visits since the program launch, helping residents identify critical weatherization needs in older homes, like attic insulation and air sealing, that improve comfort and reduce energy bills.
Ronald鈥檚 journey began in Oakland, where he joined BayREN and Rising Sun鈥檚 Climate Careers internship program in 2019. That summer experience sparked a passion for sustainability and service in Ronald. 鈥淚 loved showing people how much they could save with the Energy Savings Toolkit,鈥 Ronald recalls. 鈥淚t was free, simple, and made a real difference.鈥
Inspired by his experience with Climate Careers, Ronald pursued a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies and Economics at UC Santa Cruz. He later returned to BayREN as an Energy Advisor for the now-retired Home+ program, where he spent three years helping local families choose the right upgrades for their homes. His dedication led him to earn BPI and LEED certifications on his own time, further deepening his expertise.
Now, as part of the EASE Program, Ronald is excited to continue serving his community. 鈥淚t鈥檚 amazing to see BayREN design a program with equity front and center,鈥 he shares. 鈥淧articipants are eager to learn how upgrades can improve their comfort and save energy. I love walking through their homes and explaining the benefits of potential energy-saving measures.鈥
Ronald sees the EASE Home Program as a steppingstone for his career. This fall, he鈥檒l begin a Master of Science in Energy Systems Management at the University of San Francisco. Eventually, he wants to work with a local organization or public utility and launch his own business focused on sustainable energy solutions.
BayREN is proud to see a Climate Careers graduate leading the way in building healthier, more energy-efficient homes. Thank you, Ronald, for your dedication and for continuing to uplift Bay Area communities!