Over the weekend, Greening Oakland Homes held a fair at the Montclair Women’s Cultural Arts Club.  After months of consideration and contributions by many volunteers, this Saturday event invited all neighbors to dip their toes into the world of energy audits, green retrofits and alternative energy.

Yes, saving energy is inherently local.  As a homeowner, it’s pretty natural to ask neighbors what they did or who they used when making improvements in their energy and water consumption.  It can be daunting to embark on a project, when you haven’t been swimming here before.

Rather than some overwhelming event, there were selected vendors who served Oakland.  Many of them said things like “well, we did a place that…” and proceeded to share projects that happened nearby.

Of course, going to the Women’s Club is always a treat.  The room on the left, a dark and richly covered place, was used for presentations.  And the main ballroom showcased all the vendors, along with info from local utilities and the City of Oakland.

I don’t really want to play favorites but the cool windows and coverings caught my eye.  One group that trains young adults to do energy audits and improvements seemed pretty terrific, too.

Missed it?  You can check out info about greening initiatives and more at their website.