Hills Residents Save BIG on PG&E Bills: You Can Too!
05 Sep 2012 |
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Results are in for a one-year pilot program that employs a software-based approach to educating consumers to save energy. And they’re impressive! The program was developed by local resident Steve Schmidt, founder of High Energy Audits. Funded through a grant from the California Energy Commission and managed by Acterra, the High Energy Homes program targeted the highest energy-consuming communities in our area including, Atherton, Los Altos Hills, Monte Sereno, Portola Valley and Woodside. The program ran from April 2011 through April 2012. See this month’s article in the Los Altos Hills newsletter, Our Town.
Do you recognize this device? A smart-strip like this can save you energy and money.
Big Savings
- The 176 program users reduced their electric use by an average of 6% with little or no cost to them. The top fourth of these users reduced their electricity use by more than 18%.
- These participants saved a total of more than $122,000 on their PG&E bills.
- The 54 participants from Los Altos Hills achieved annual savings of more than 66,000 kWh of electricity and 3,300 therms of natural gas. This corresponds to reducing 71 metric tons of CO2 equivalents.
- Los Altos Hills participants saved $712 per year on their PG&E bills.
“In the first 10 minutes of the audit we discovered an easy way to save 850 kWh per year with zero cost and no impact on our lifestyle. As a result of this and other changes, three months after the audit my electric bill was the lowest in 9 years of full occupancy months.” — Walt, Los Altos Hills
The good news for Los Altos Hills is that the Town Council has approved another year’s worth of funding for the program, making the software available for an additional 50 homes. “This is a truly valuable program, given both the cost savings and environmental benefits,” says Chair of the Environmental Initiatives Committee, Peter Evans. “I couldn’t be more pleased to have the Council’s support for continuing the program.”
Los Altos Residents: Are You Jealous Yet?
Don’t be. GreenTown is offering this program for free for the first 50 residents that sign up. After 50 residents apply, a $50 fee will be charged. Thus far, we have 14 signups, so there are plenty of spaces left. These program enable residents to go online and use their PG&E SmartMeter data to create a home energy profile. This profile provides a visual representation of home energy usage and highlights low-cost energy-saving opportunities.
Sign up here:
- Los Altos: Through a GreenTown pilot program, online assessment at: www.highenergyaudits.com/hea.
- Los Altos Hills: Free online assessment at http://www.
losaltoshills.ca.gov/ .sustainability/high-energy- homes
