San Francisco, Calif.’s energy efficiency measures save businesses and residents $21 million annually (8/08)

August 2008

The Achievement

The City of San Francisco has implemented sweeping and innovative energy efficiency measures for both government operations and the San Francisco community.

To reduce community-wide energy use, the City implemented the following successful commercial and multi-family residential energy efficiency programs: Power Savers, SF Peak Energy Program, and SF Energy Watch.

The Benefits

These programs have helped to reduce electricity use in San Francisco by 18 megawatts – enough to power more than 20,000 residencies. The Power Savers Program alone saves small businesses $3.5 million annually. Combined programs are on target to save businesses and residents $21 million annually. Programs completed between 2002-2008 are also saving 32,945 tons CO2 per year.

Because of these and many other energy efficiency measures (for city operations and the community) the City has already achieved greenhouse gas reductions of 5 percent below 1990 levels, with a goal of 20 percent by 2012.

[Source: August 5, 2008 Summary Report: San Francisco Actions to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions]