LOS ANGELES, May 2, 2018 — Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) today presented a check to Cuesta College for more than $34,000 in rebates for new energy-efficient equipment for the college’s San Luis Obispo and North County campuses. The rebates covered part of the cost of seven new high-efficiency boilers and pipe insulation installed at the two campuses.
SoCalGas offers such rebates to its institutional and business customers through its Energy Efficiency Rebates For Businesses (EERB) program, which covers the cost of improvements like commercial grade dishwashers, ovens, clothes washers, space-heating and other boilers, water heaters, steam traps and other energy efficient commercial equipment.
“SoCalGas is pleased to assist Cuesta College by providing rebates for their new energy-efficient equipment,” said Dan Rendler, director of customer programs and assistance at SoCalGas. “The new heating systems will help them use significantly less energy, lower their energy bills, and reduce emissions.”
“I would encourage every higher-education institution and business to take advantage of SoCalGas’ Energy Efficiency Rebates program,” said Gilbert H. Stork, Ed.D., superintendent and president of Cuesta College. “Using more efficient commercial heating and other equipment is beneficial to both the environment and the bottom line.”
SoCalGas is a leader in researching and developing new technologies that improve energy efficiency and reduce emissions. Since 1990, the utility's energy efficiency and rebate programs have reduced emissions equal to taking almost 700,000 cars off the road. These advances have also helped save SoCalGas customers more than $670 million in utility bill costs.
In Southern California, natural gas is the most affordable and reliable option for space and water heating and for cooking. More than 90 percent of residents use natural gas to heat their home and hot water. According to the American Gas Association (AGA), households that use natural gas for water and space heating, cooking and clothes drying save an average of $874 per year compared to homes using electricity for those applications.
Moreover, thanks to energy efficiency measures and new technology, business and homes account for only about 7.5 percent of greenhouse gas emissions statewide, according to the California Air Resources Board. SoCalGas is looking at ways to further reduce emissions by using renewable natural gas to fuel homes and businesses. Decarbonizing natural gas pipelines with renewable natural gas will help California obtain deep greenhouse gas reductions at the lowest overall cost while preserving energy choice for residents and businesses alike.
About SoCalGas
Headquartered in Los Angeles, SoCalGas® is the largest natural gas distribution utility in the United States, providing clean, safe, affordable and reliable natural gas service to 21.7 million customers in Central and Southern California. Its service territory spans 22,000 square miles from Fresno to the Mexican border, reaching more than 550 communities through 5.9 million meters and 101,000 miles of pipeline. More than 90 percent of Southern California single-family home residents use natural gas for home heat and hot water. In addition, natural gas plays a key role in providing electricity to Californians—about 60 percent of electric power generated in the state comes from gas-fired power plants.
SoCalGas has served communities in California for 150 years and is committed to being a leader in the region’s clean energy future. The company is working to accelerate the use of renewable natural gas, a carbon-neutral or carbon-negative fuel created by capturing and conditioning greenhouse gas emissions from farms, landfills and wastewater treatment plants. SoCalGas is a subsidiary of Sempra Energy (NYSE: SRE), a Fortune 500 energy services holding company based in San Diego. For more information visit socalgas.com/newsroom or connect with SoCalGas on Twitter (@SoCalGas), Instagram (@SoCalGas) and Facebook.
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