Putting Energy Efficiency First

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Way back in 1976, PG&E became one of the first utilities in the nation to offer energy efficiency programs to our customers. And we’ve been a leader ever since.

Using energy more efficiently is more than simply the right thing to do — it saves our customers money on their energy bills. It is also the fastest, most cost-effective way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat global climate change. In fact, over the past 30 years, PG&E and our customers have kept over 125 million tons of carbon dioxide (CO₂) out of the atmosphere.

While the times may have changed, PG&E’s commitment to saving energy is stronger than ever.

Partnering with Our Customers

PG&E offers a full package of energy efficiency products and services for our customers, including rebates and incentives, energy analyses, demand response programs and more.

Last October, we launched a groundbreaking campaign to give away one million compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) as part of ENERGY STAR’s Change a Light, Change the World campaign. Because CFLs use 75 percent less energy than traditional incandescent lamps, we are educating our customers how helping the environment can be as easy as changing a light bulb. We are also working directly with manufacturers and retailers to discount the bulbs at the point of sale.

Our Pacific Energy Center in San Francisco and Energy Training Center in Stockton promote new technologies and educate our customers on the latest energy efficiency options. Our Food Service Technology Center in San Ramon provides nationally recognized energy efficiency consulting services to the commercial food service industry.

Creating High Tech Energy-Saving Solutions

Data centers can use up to 100 times the energy per square foot of typical office space. That’s why PG&E offers a whole set of programs and services for the high tech sector, including incentives for energy-efficient servers, heating and cooling system upgrades, LCD monitors and more. We also helped form a nationwide coalition of utilities to discuss and coordinate energy efficiency efforts for data centers in the high-tech sector. And we were the first utility to join the Green Grid, a non-profit consortium dedicated to advancing energy efficiency in data centers and business computing systems.

Bringing New Technologies to You

We are actively working to identify the next generation of energy-efficient technologies. Using an assessment process similar to Consumer Reports™, we are targeting more than 60 new technologies. Emerging technologies now entering PG&E's rebate and incentive programs include energy-efficient desktop computer power supplies, high-performance lighting for classrooms and energy-saving cooling systems for computer data centers. We also contributed $500,000 in shareholder funding to a new Energy Efficiency Research Center at the University of California-Davis.

Finding Local Solutions

We are partnering with communities to deliver energy efficiency solutions for local needs, including energy audits and direct-installation programs. For example, in Sonoma County, we are making the connection between energy efficiency and climate change by leveraging Sonoma's ambitious commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

In addition, PG&E has provided the technical expertise for the California Energy Commission to implement the most aggressive appliance and building efficiency standards in the country. The California Energy Commission adopted into Title 20 and Title 24 nearly 60 specific California energy codes and standards proposed by PG&E for appliances and buildings.

Working Internationally

We are working internationally through the U.S.-China Energy Efficiency Alliance, founded by the Natural Resources Defense Council. The Alliance is helping China meet its energy efficiency goals, which will, in turn, have significant air quality and climate change benefits.

News Releases

2008

• Nation's Utilities Join with PG&E to Curtail Energy Demand in Information Technology Industry, March 27, 2008
• PG&E Partners With U.S. Gsa to Offer Major Energy Efficiency Rebates For Federal Building Facilities, March 6, 2008
• PG&E Seeks to Upgrade Smartmeter™ Technology To Enhance Customer, Operational Benefits, January 17, 2008
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