Program DesignPrint

Premium Efficiency Cooling Program

Premium Efficiency. Optimal Performance. Good Sense.

Client: San Diego Gas & Electric Company® (SDG&E®)Sample
Location: SDG&E® service area

Challenge/Business Need

In 2008 the California Public Utilities Commission adopted California’s first Long Term Energy Efficiency Strategic Plan to reduce market barriers and to establish ambitious goals for energy efficiency and greenhouse gas reduction.

A cornerstone of this plan required improving HVAC energy efficiency by a total of 50 percent by 2020 and 75 percent by 2030. It also included promoting and delivering quality installations, advanced maintenance and the early adoption of high-efficiency A/C units.

To support the goals outlined in the strategic plan, San Diego Gas & Electric® (SDG&E®) required an effective outreach strategy to manufacturers, distributors, local HVAC contractors and customers throughout its service area.

CSG’s ROLE

SDG&E® service area covers more than 4,100 square miles and 1.4 million business and residential accounts in two counties and 25 communities.

CSG was chosen by SDG&E® to collaboratively develop and administer program incentives, technical standards, training, and marketing leading to market transformation, including:

  • Incentives paid to manufacturers, distributors, contractors and/or customers
  • Contractor recruiting, training, and support
  • Creation of a website and marketing materials
  • Coordination of no-interest and low-interest financing programs
  • Data processing, Verification Service Provider coordination and quality assurance

COMMUNITY BENEFITS:

  • Single point for stakeholder contact
  • Electronic forms and web-based applications enable easy participation
  • Fully staffed contact center supports customers and contractors
  • Early retirement of inefficient units and maintenance of existing ones
  • Direct customer marketing and financing options effectively target high-yield sites

RESULTS:

  • Four-year demand reduction goal surpassed months ahead of schedule
  • Lifecycle net energy savings estimated at 120 million kWh
  • Total lifecycle carbon reductions are estimated at 69.5 thousand tons
  • High visibility achieved in crucial hard-to-reach sectors

Strategy & goals

With San Diego’s temperate climate and strong tourism and technology industries, the program targeted hotels/motels and the biotech and service companies to maximize energy savings. CSG also provided equipment tune-ups and replacements throughout the service area.

The primary goals were to reduce peak summer demand by 9.2 MW and annual energy use by 13.9 million kWh over a four-year period. The strategy included the design and delivery of:

  • Hotel/motel direct outreach promoting SDG&E® On-Bill Financing Program
  • Contractor training and recruiting workshops hosted by AC distributors
  • Multi-portal website for customer information and contractor updates
  • Energy savings calculators for contractor and customer use

A few key strategies were:

  • Participation in business associations and trade events
  • Coordination with utility account executives and participating contractors to influence A/C sales in restaurants, retail outlets, biotech facilities and offices
  • Coordination with manufacturers and distributors to push product stocking and sales through national accounts and engage contractors in the program

Impact

As of May 2009, this program has produced positive results, including:

  • Meeting its 4-year demand reduction goal
  • Reaching 76 percent of its annual savings (kWh) goal
  • Issuing $3.1 million in incentives
  • Saving an estimated 834,000 annual kWh (340 kW) from hotel/motel sites alone
  • Replaced approximately 45,000 tons of cooling with high efficiency equipment

CSG Contacts

Elizabeth DeSouza, Program Manager
Kathleen DeVito, Director of Corporate Communications

Tasteful Flourish