News

Mayor Villaraigosa announces new record in energy and water savings.

26 August 2009

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa announced today two record-setting achievements that the City of Los Angeles and its Department of Water and Power have made in energy efficiency and water conservation.

First, the Mayor announced that the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) has achieved a new energy savings record of 318 gigawatt-hours (GWh) for fiscal year 2008-09. That amount of energy savings equates to removing 53,000 households from the grid and avoiding 178,700 metric tons of greenhouses gases (GHG) each year.

The Mayor also announced that, thanks to Phase III water restrictions, Angelenos reduced their water use in July 2009 by more than 17% overall from the previous year. Single-Family Residential properties decreased usage by 20.1%; Multi-Family Residential properties decreased usage by 8.3%; Commercial properties decreased water usage by 17.1%; Industrial properties decreased usage by 21.8%; and Government properties decreased usage by 34.4%.

"Avoiding the need to generate power through energy efficiency is the cleanest and most economical way to reduce the city’s carbon footprint and I am pleased that the DWP and its customers have been so mindful of their energy usage," said Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. "Also, with the water shortage that we are facing, we must reduce our reliance on imported water and I am very encouraged that Angelenos have reduced their water consumption, especially during these summer months. Both of these announcements are tremendous achievements that demonstrate the commitment by the City of Los Angeles to significantly reduce energy use and water consumption to help make this the greenest big city in America."

LADWP, which provides electric and water service to 4 million residents in Los Angeles, has increased its energy efficiency budget 10-fold over the last three years, demonstrating its commitment to reducing energy use as a means to curb greenhouse gas emissions, offset increases in customer demand, and save costs for its customers.

David Nahai, LADWP Chief Executive Officer and General Manager, gives credit to the Department's 680,000 water customers and 1.4 million electric customers. "These accomplishments were realized by Angelenos united in the common goals of protecting our water supply and reducing our greenhouse gas emissions. We are in this together and we are making healthy strides in the right direction."

Five core programs accounted for 92 percent of LADWP’s energy savings during fiscal year 2008-09, including:

• Compact Fluorescent Lamp (CFL) Distribution: LADWP delivered 2.4 million CFLs—two CFLs to each of the 1.2 million residences in Los Angeles.
• Energy savings: 121 GWh; reduces 68,000 metric tons of GHG emissions annually.
• Utility bill savings: $16-$20 per year; approximately $100 over life of the CFLs.
• Low-income Refrigerator Exchange: LADWP provided 13,650 free Energy Star-rated refrigerators in exchange for old, inefficient models in 2008-09, and 45,000 since the program’s inception in 2006-07, to qualified low-income customers. Saving energy and money, the program takes the inefficient refrigerators off the grid, and ensures they are environmentally recycled.
  • Energy savings: 11 GWh; reduces about 6,200 metric tons of GHG emissions annually.
  • Utility bill savings: $1,000 over life of the refrigerator, a 15 percent bill reduction.
• Small Business Direct Install: LADWP installed free energy efficient lighting for more than 34,000 small businesses in 2008-09. The program targets businesses using less than 30 kWh.
  • Energy savings: 100 GWh; reduces 56,000 metric tons of GHG emissions annually.
  • Utility bill savings: As much as $500 per year, a 25 percent bill reduction.
• Commercial Lighting Efficiency Offer: More than 500 rebates for high efficiency lighting projects were paid to commercial, industrial and governmental customers, totaling $4.75 million, in 2008-09.
  • Energy savings: 36 GWh; reduces more than 20,000 metric tons of GHG emissions annually.
  • Utility bill savings: Approximately $3.9 million for program participants collectively.
• Custom Performance Program: LADWP paid $2.7 million in incentives to non-residential customers for 77 energy efficiency projects in 2008-09. The program provides incentives for energy efficiency measures not covered by other energy efficiency programs.
  • Energy savings: 26.5 GWh; reducing almost 15,000 metric tons of GHG emissions annually.
  • Utility bill savings: Approximately $2.9 million for program participants collectively.
• Consumer Rebate Program: LADWP residential customers received rebate payments totaling $1.1 million in 2008-09 for energy saving refrigerators, pool pumps and motors, dual pane windows, and air conditioner equipment. An additional $364,000 was paid to customers through the refrigerator “RETIRE” program, which offers a $35 cash incentive to customers resulting in LADWP picking up customers’ older, inefficient refrigerators and recycling them in an environmentally responsible manner.
  • Energy savings: 10 GWh; reducing 5,600 metric tons of GHG emissions annually.
  • Utility bill savings: Approximately $1.2 million for program participants collectively.

LADWP's 2008-09 energy savings achievement of 318 GWh shatters the previous energy efficiency record set in 2001-2002, 164.2 GWh of energy saved. LADWP remains committed to implementing cost effective energy efficiency programs that provide the maximum environmental and financial benefits to the ratepayers, the businesses and residents of Los Angeles.

For more information regarding energy saving tips and rebates and incentive programs, as well as other LADWP environmental efforts, please visit www.ladwp.com or phone 1-800-GREEN LA.

Source: Office of the Mayor, City of Los Angeles