Energy Saving News
San Francisco Invests In Energy Efficiency
San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom has announced that the city will invest $19.2 million to make the city more energy efficient, and in the process create up to 22 new jobs and generate $3 million in energy savings annually going forward.
About $11.5 million of the funds will be distributed through San Francisco’s Energy Watch program — a project working on the installation of more efficient lighting and HVAC systems.
The money will be used to subsidise new equipment purchases for small to mid-size businesses, allowing them to upgrade their equipment and plant without taking out loans. The remaining $7.7 million will be used to modernise and retrofit municipal buildings like jails, hospitals and museums.
This isn’t the first time the city by the bay has made a major push for energy efficiency. Already, more than 2,000 businesses and residential buildings have been updated with greener appliances and structural changes.
Conservation initiatives since 2001 have reduced the city’s energy consumption by 29 megawatts, which is enough to power 29,000 households. The city is expecting further savings of 6 megawatts after the state money is put to use.
The Energy Watch program is funded by the Public Goods Charge, a monthly fee business owners pay to the California Public Utilities Commission.
Friday 5th February 2010
