Recipients included Fertile GroundWorks, a Livermore-based nonprofit that grows food for community kitchens and food banks, and Barnett Plumbing and Water Heaters, which specializes in upgrading gas-to-electric heat pump water heaters in the Tri-Valley area StopWaste’s 2023 Environmental Leadership Awards.
Oakland-based StopWaste is a public agency governed by the Alameda County Waste Management Authority, the Alameda County Source Reduction and Recycling Board and the Energy Council that works with county residents, schools and businesses to reduce waste and natural resources to use more efficiently.
In addition to growing food for distribution by others, Fertile GroundWorks teaches organic farming and sustainable production at its Garden of Grace on an Asbury United Methodist Church property and helps maintain food gardens at 20 area schools.
Phil Barnett, owner of Barnett Plumbing, said the company, founded in 2005, specializes in helping customers convert from gas to electric heat pump water heaters because they are three to four times more efficient, do not burn fossil fuels and are regional and national discount programs are eligible for use.
However, according to Barnett, the transition can present some challenges, especially “when you don’t have hot water because your heater just broke.”
The first thing Barnett Plumbing does is offer a hot water “lender” while the company sorts out any electrical, permitting, incentive, financing, or plumbing issues.
In 2022, Barnett installed 177 heat pump water heaters in Bay Area homes eligible for approximately $170,000 in government incentives.
www.independentnews.com
https://www.independentnews.com/community/fertile-groundworks-barnett-plumbing-and-water-heaters-receive-environmental-awards/article_a6d891fe-2409-11ee-9c7b-cf39853ab9f6.html
