SMBs Save Energy and $700K
More than 2,500 businesses in this suburb southeast of San Francisco participated in an energy efficiency program that will save one megawatt of energy annually. That translates to roughly $700,000 a year in energy savings.
More than 2,500 businesses in this suburb southeast of San Francisco participated in an energy efficiency program that will save one megawatt of energy annually.
The program brought together the city, small- and medium-sized businesses, East Bay Energy Watch, Pacific Gas & Electric Co., Business Energy Services Team and KEMA Services Inc., which performed energy audits and retrofit services. The retrofits largely involved lighting and refrigeration. The savings equal about $700,000 annually.
The program was free and included 12 phases, said spokesman David Eisenhauer.
"Most customers ended up paying a fraction of the cost of installing this equipment," Eisenhauer told GreenBiz Thursday.
Subsidies from PG&E and East Bay Energy Watch offset about 80 percent of the expenses associated with the upgrades, he said. Savings for individual businesses ranged from under $100 to $20,000 annually.
The program is ongoing so more businesses can still participate, Eisenhauer said.
East Bay Energy Watch is a partnership between PG&E, local governments, non-profit groups and for-profit energy providers covering Alameda, Contra Costa and Solano counties.
The program brought together the city, small- and medium-sized businesses, East Bay Energy Watch, Pacific Gas & Electric Co., Business Energy Services Team and KEMA Services Inc., which performed energy audits and retrofit services. The retrofits largely involved lighting and refrigeration. The savings equal about $700,000 annually.
The program was free and included 12 phases, said spokesman David Eisenhauer.
"Most customers ended up paying a fraction of the cost of installing this equipment," Eisenhauer told GreenBiz Thursday.
Subsidies from PG&E and East Bay Energy Watch offset about 80 percent of the expenses associated with the upgrades, he said. Savings for individual businesses ranged from under $100 to $20,000 annually.
The program is ongoing so more businesses can still participate, Eisenhauer said.
East Bay Energy Watch is a partnership between PG&E, local governments, non-profit groups and for-profit energy providers covering Alameda, Contra Costa and Solano counties.
