When you make operations more efficient and reduce the greenhouse gas footprint of city buildings, you save money and set an example for businesses and citizens. PG&E will work with your facilities managers to improve efficiency. We can advise you on simple improvements that are low cost or no cost to the local government.

PG&E provides tools, workshops and an Automated Benchmarking Service (ABS) (PDF, 186 KB) to enable you to track and assess the energy consumption of your buildings using the ENERGY STAR^® Portfolio Manager. PG&E's ABS provides ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager with historical energy usage data and updates it monthly so you don’t have to enter meter data manually for each month.

Learn more about benchmarking.

Whether you are replacing existing equipment or purchasing new equipment, incentives are available for energy-efficient technologies for water and waste water treatment facilities. Examples include rebates for premium T-8 and T-5 lighting, occupancy sensors, day-lighting controls and premium efficient motors and pumps.

To learn more about our building energy code training or for assistance in developing a local energy-efficiency ordinance and leveraging utility rebates and incentives, please contact your PG&E account manager.

Learn more about Smart Policy—Green Building (PDF, 47 KB).

We'll provide your city or county with its energy usage data in a simplified electronic format to help you complete greenhouse gas (GHG) inventories, set GHG-reduction targets and develop climate action plans. See our GHG Data Fact Sheet (PDF, 1.6 MB) to see what kind of data we provide and find out how to request the data you need.

PG&E is partnering with the international organization ICLEI (Local Governments for Sustainability) and other regional partners to help cities and counties prepare greenhouse gas inventories and develop climate action plans. A limited number of college interns will be available to prepare greenhouse gas inventories. To learn more, email us.

In addition to the resources offered above, the Statewide Energy Efficiency Collaborative (SEEC) provides resources to local governments throughout California. The SEEC program provides webinars, peer-to-peer networking, technical assistance and online tools, and the Beacon Award, which recognizes local agencies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and energy use. Learn more.

PG&E is proud to support local governments in their efforts to encourage the proper handling of burnt-out fluorescent lamps. Fluorescent lamps are a great energy-efficient option when choosing lighting, but they do require proper disposal. Burnt-out bulbs can’t be thrown in either the trash or recycling bin.

We have partnered with StopWaste.Org to develop marketing materials for use by all local governments to run a successful fluorescent lamp recycling program. These marketing templates relay a consistent and catchy brand for the responsible disposal of spent bulbs. The materials are customizable per jurisdiction and downloadable from this site. Start with the User’s Guide to answer basic questions and to get started on an outreach campaign today!

• User Guide (PDF, 2.6 MB)
• Best Practices (PDF, 146 KB)
• Fact Sheet:
  • English (PDF, 138 KB)
  • Spanish (PDF, 145 KB)
  • Chinese (PDF, 372 KB)
• CFL Ads (PDF, 1.7 MB)
  • CFL Ads - File for editing (AI, 2.4 MB)
• CFL Banner Ad (PDF, 659 KB)
• CFL Box Sticker (PDF, 490 KB)
• CFL Counter Card (PDF, 492 KB)
  • CFL Counter Card - File for editing (AI, 1.2 MB)
• CFL School Handout (PDF, 1.6 MB)
  • CFL School Handout - File for editing (AI, 2.3 MB)
• CFL Shelf Talker (PDF, 476 KB)
• CFL Tri-fold (PDF, 1.2 MB)
  • CFL Tri-fold - File for editing (AI, 1.9 MB)
• CFL Web Badge (PDF, 427 KB)
• CFL Window Sticker (PDF, 453 KB)

We'll work with you to help you promote awareness and galvanize community action to save energy, increase use of renewable energy, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. We’ll also collaborate with you to educate residents, businesses and schools about PG&E services, bring more resources into your community, and jointly publicize success.

Energy Watch Partnerships enable local governments and communities to collaborate with PG&E to access energy-efficiency services. Partnerships may:

• Collaborate with PG&E on energy-efficiency campaigns for businesses and residents.
• Educate the community about PG&E services.
• Develop longer-term energy strategies to implement climate plans, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, create jobs and increase renewable energy.

Find out if there is a government partnership in your area that will assist you with your energy-efficiency needs.

Your community can leverage PG&E's PowerPathway™ Energy Efficiency & Renewables Training Network of community colleges with energy-related programs that are preparing tomorrow's services-sector green workforce.

PG&E's Green Jobs Primer is designed to help communities attract and train the green workforce needed to green their cities. The Green Jobs Primer shares best practices learned through the development of PG&E's PowerPathway program, as well as the company’s experience with local hiring initiatives.

Learn more about the Green Workforce (PDF, 631 KB).

• City of Santa Rosa Case Study (PDF, 427 KB)

PG&E also works with local governments that are aggressively developing and implementing energy management plans to reduce their community-wide greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. A PG&E Community Energy Manager and the local government partner will jointly develop a comprehensive energy management strategy that the local government can implement across its institutional, residential, business and industrial sectors.

Communities that are leaders in energy and GHG-reduction can stretch their creative approaches even further with PG&E's Innovator Pilots funding, available on a competitive basis to local, regional or sub-regional governments, or associations of governments. Innovator Pilots provide funding for projects that test, demonstrate and measure innovative ways to deliver energy savings.

Learn more about Innovator Pilots.

• Turn off non-essential indoor/outdoor lighting, signage, window displays and office equipment not in use (i.e., printers, copiers, shredders, coffee makers).
• Turn off decorative features, such as fountains, lighting and ambient audio and video displays.
• Pre-cool work areas, then cycle constant air volume heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) units or temporarily re-set static pressure in variable air volume HVAC, turn off ceiling fans and room fans, and raise temperature settings.
• Some facilities with package air conditioning units can do load cycling, temperature reset, and possibly pre-cooling.
• Turn off beverage vending machines and shift use of icemakers before or after an event.
• Conduct meetings during events to minimize use of equipment.
• Charge batteries and battery-operated equipment prior to an event, then unplug battery chargers and use only pre-charged equipment during an event.
• Adjust employee schedules and shifts so that times of increased production or energy use occur before or after planned events.
• Complete dishwashing and housekeeping activities before or after an event.
• Turn off or turn down boilers, pumps, fans and equipment not in use, especially in printing facilities.
• Turn off excess elevator banks and escalators (as permitted).
• Turn off or turn down chillers, and reset chilled water temperature.
• Adjust variable speed drive controls to reduce load from fans, pumps and chillers.
• Apply ventilation control – temporarily reducing outside airflow can help reduce cooling demand.