SAN DIEGO, May 8, 2008—San Diego Gas & Electric today honored five commercial customers for energy-efficiency leadership in their facility design and operations. 

        The U.S. Marine Corps’ Camp Pendleton, Solana Beach School District, SC Engineers Inc., Hunter Industries and AC Energy Systems were named “Energy Champions” in recognition of their efforts to reduce both their energy use and impact on the environment.

        “California leads the nation in energy efficiency,” said Debra L. Reed, president and chief executive officer of SDG&E.  “Using energy wisely to both reduce costs and the impact on the environment is frequently cited by our customers among their top priorities, and we’re committed to helping them accomplish this.”  

        SDG&E presented the awards at its third annual Energy Showcase, an all-day conference held to raise awareness of the $85 million in energy-efficiency rebates and incentives available to business customers this year.

        San Diego County Supervisor Ron Roberts, a member of the California Air Resources Board and longtime advocate for improving regional air quality, delivered the event’s keynote address. Roberts noted that public and private efforts to reduce carbon emissions over the past several years have led to the cleanest air in the region in 50 years.

        Camp Pendleton was named “Large Commercial/Industrial Energy Champion” for a $13.4 million project that upgraded facilities at the Oceanside Marine Corps base with more energy-efficient systems. Retrofits included replacing heating and air-conditioning units; adding natural day-lighting systems and high-output fluorescent lighting in warehouses; installing photovoltaic street lights and bus shelters; replacing pump motors; installing a solar thermal array at the base’s training pools; and other measures that together will save taxpayers $1.3 million in annual energy costs.

        Solana Beach School District, the “Mid-Size Commercial/Industrial Energy Champion,” retrofitted 4,000 light fixtures with energy-efficient versions, which will save the district more than $113,000 per year in energy costs. The retrofit was financed through a SDG&E program that provides no-interest loans for energy-saving improvements recovered over a five-year period.

        SC Engineers Inc. of Rancho Bernardo, the “Small Business Champion,” was honored for its energy-efficient design consulting for facilities at Rady Children’s Hospital and student housing at the University of San Diego. 

        Irrigation equipment provider Hunter Industries was named “Sustainable Communities Champion” for its highly energy-efficient headquarters facility in San Marcos featuring dual photovoltaic systems – one that powers the building, and one owned by SDG&E that feeds electricity back to the grid.

        AC Energy Systems was named “Industrial Champion” for its carbon monoxide- monitoring systems used in underground and enclosed parking lots that allow exhaust fans to turn on only when needed.  In all, the company’s parking lot-monitoring projects have reduced electricity use by more than 40 million kilowatt-hours.

        SDG&E offers a wide range of energy-efficiency programs that can benefit companies of all sizes.  To learn how to qualify, businesses can log on to www.sdge.com/business or contact their SDG&E account representatives.

        SDG&E is a regulated public utility that provides safe and reliable energy service to 3.4 million consumers through 1.4 million electric meters and more than 800,000 natural gas meters in San Diego and southern Orange counties.  The utility’s area spans 4,100 square miles.  Exceptional customer service is a priority of SDG&E as it seeks to enhance the region’s quality of life.  SDG&E is a regulated subsidiary of Sempra Energy (NYSE: SRE).  Sempra Energy, based in San Diego, is a Fortune 500 energy services holding company. 

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