SAN DIEGO, April 28, 2011 – San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) today announced eleven local businesses have been recognized as Energy Champions at the 6th Annual SDG&E Energy Showcase for their outstanding efforts in energy efficiency and conservation.
       
“This is the sixth year we’ve been thanking our customers who go the extra mile to achieve energy savings at the Energy Showcase,” said Hal Snyder, vice president of customer solutions for SDG&E.  “We’re proud to partner with these remarkable customers who take advantage of all the rebates and incentives that make it financially feasible to take on capital improvements.  Because of that they have saved more than 55 million kilowatt hours, the equivalent of taking 3,187 cars off the road.”

In addition to the awards program announcing the honorees, the Energy Showcase featured seminars by customers who have taken advantage of SDG&E’s energy rebates, demand response programs, free onsite energy-efficiency assessments and zero-interest financing programs.  There were also 75 exhibitors and vendors showcasing the latest energy-saving technologies for those in attendance at this free event. 

The County of San Diego was one of the eleven honored as a standout Energy Champion, and has implemented energy and water efficiency measures for the first phase of the County Operations Center Redevelopment Project.  This project will save the County $265,000 annually in utility costs, 2 million kilowatt hours in electricity and 571 kilowatts in peak power demand.  This was achieved through high-performance window glazing, air-conditioning, lighting, highly reflective roof surfaces and plumbing fixtures that use 40 percent less water than conventional versions.
     
“In these tough economic times the County needs to be a leader in showing that using energy and water efficiently can save money today and in the long run,” said Bill Horn, chairman of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors.
     
The Escondido Union School District, another award recipient, retrofitted more than 22,000 light fixtures throughout the district and launched Save Amps, Voltage and Electricity Patrol -- or SAVE Patrol -- a  program where students are tasked with ensuring lights are turned off, doors are closed, both at school and at home.
     
“The district was able to save (thru cost avoidance) $230,000 off its electricity bill and reallocate those resources back into the general fund to support the educational goals of the school district,” said Francis Spoonemore, director of maintenance and operations for the Escondido Union School District.
       
Along with the County of San Diego and Escondido Union School District, other award winners were Albertsons, Emerald Textiles, GNF Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation, Harrah’s Rincon Resort & Casino, Rady Children’s Hospital San Diego, United States Navy, University of San Diego, Portland Energy Conservation, Inc. (PECI) and Energy Logic Inc.

For more information on energy and money-saving programs available to SDG&E customers, business owners and representatives call (800) 411-7343, or visit www.sdge.com.
      
SDG&E’s energy-efficiency programs are subject to change without notice and will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis as long as funding is available.  These programs are funded by California utility customers and administered by SDG&E under the auspices of the California Public Utilities Commission. 

SDG&E is a regulated public utility that provides safe and reliable energy service to 3.5 million consumers through 1.4 million electric meters and more than 850,000 natural gas meters in San Diego and southern Orange counties.  The utility’s area spans 4,100 square miles.  SDG&E is committed to creating ways to help our customers save energy and money every day.
    
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