From BayREN intern to energy advisor

For Ronald Andrew Catahimican, an Energy Advisor with BayREN’s Efficiency and Sustainable Energy (EASE) program, his work is deeply personal. 

The EASE program launched in June, 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. 

A Bay Area native, Catahimican 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.

Catahimican’s journey began in Oakland, where he joined BayREN and Rising Sun’s Climate Careers internship program in 2019. That summer experience sparked a passion for sustainability and service in Ronald. 

“I loved showing people how much they could save with the Energy Savings Toolkit,” Catahimican recalls. “It was free, simple, and made a real difference.”

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, Catahimican is excited to continue serving his community.

“It’s amazing to see BayREN design a program with equity front and center,” he said. “Participants 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.”

Catahimican sees the EASE Home Program as a steppingstone for his career. This fall, he’ll 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.