August 14, 2007
LOS ANGELES – As a major heat wave presses down on Southern California, and with temperatures expected to top 100 degrees in the San Fernando Valley, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) today will generate and deliver more power to its customers than any other day so far this year when power demand peaks at approximately 5400 megawatts, prompting officials to remind and encourage residents and businesses to reduce their energy consumption. The previous high so far this year was reached on July 26th when customer peak demand reached 5388 megawatts of power.
“As temperatures rise and customer demand for power increases, we are urging our customers to take steps to save energy,” said Robert Rozanski, LADWP Acting General Manager. “While our system has performed exceptionally well this summer and we have adequate generation to meet our energy demand, there are a lot of good reasons to reduce energy use. Not only does it reduce stress on the power system, but it also saves money and helps protect the environment. Every dollar our customers save through energy conservation is a dollar worth of energy we don’t have to produce and a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.”
With hot weather expected to continue through the rest of the week, LADWP officials also assured customers that the Department has crews ready to respond in the event of any localized power outages.
As temperatures continue to rise, customer demand for energy is expected to escalate prompting LADWP to urge customers to cut back on their power consumption by using the following tips and participating in the numerous LADWP energy efficiency programs:
SIMPLE STEPS OUR CUSTOMERS CAN TAKE TO REDUCE ENERGY USE
TIPS FOR THE HOME
- Adjust thermostat to 78 degrees to reduce energy usage.
- Limit the use of appliances during peak hours of the day-use washing machines, dishwashers, vacuum cleaners and other heavy appliances during evening hours.
- Try to avoid cooking during peak hours of the day since it will add to the heat inside the home.
- Ventilate your home at night by opening windows and doors to clear out the heat and allow cooler air to circulate.
- Turn off lights and equipment when they are not in use.
- Replace incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) wherever appropriate.
- During the heat of day, close your draperies, shades, or blinds to reduce the extra heat from direct sunlight and check your home for adequate insulation.
- Plant shade trees, to reduce heat gain to the house.
- Install / Use Ceiling fans or whole House fans for comfort cooling.
- Install a programmable thermostat to adjust the temperature automatically and maximize your energy savings.
- Clean or replace your air-conditioner’s filter(s) every month to keep your air-conditioner running more efficiently.
- Regularly brush or vacuum the condenser coils at the bottom or rear of your refrigerator and check door gasket for tight fit and adjust if necessary.
- Buy energy-saving “Energy Star” labeled appliances.
- Limit the time you run your pool pump: Summer (six hours a day), Winter (four hours a day)
TIPS FOR THE OFFICE
- Turning off your desk and overhead lights, and meeting room lights, if they are not needed.
- Keep personal appliance use to minimum.
- Turn off all computer equipment when you leave the office or when they are not being used.
- Be sure your computer equipment goes into the sleep mode when not in use. (80% savings in energy use)
- Go paperless when possible. Reduced printing and copying translates into reduced energy use.
- Promote “casual Friday dress” as a means of raising the cooling settings on thermostats.
ENERGY AND MONEY SAVING PROGRAMS
LADWP provides a wide array of energy efficiency programs and services for its residential customers. The LADWP Energy Conservation Residential programs have, since 2000, achieved annual energy savings of more than 76 million kilowatt-hours. This is enough saved energy to power 10,000 homes for a year. More information can be accessed at www.ladwp.com.
Consumer Rebate Program (CRP)
The Consumer Rebate Program is designed to both educate and encourage LADWP residential customers to purchase qualifying Energy Star TM projects, such as refrigerators, air-conditioners, and other energy-saving products for the home. LADWP offers cash rebates to customers who purchase qualifying equipment. More than 10,000 residential customers receive rebates annually. Program literature and applications are available at retail outlets and through the LADWP website, www.ladwp.com/crp, at LADWP Customer Service Centers, by mail and by calling 1-800-GreenLA.
Refrigerator Recycling Program (RETIRE)
Refrigerators are the often the biggest user of home energy and realizing the potential for significant energy savings, LADWP provides refrigerator recycling for its residential customers. The program encourages customers to give up older, spare and inefficient refrigerators for recycling in an environmentally sound manner. LADWP provides this service at no cost to the customer and encourages participation by offering free compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) as an incentive. Typically, in excess of 4,000 refrigerators are recycled annually, saving customers energy and money.
Trees for a Green LA (TFGLA)
LADWP, in cooperation with the Million Tree Initiative encourages its residential customers to reduce their air conditioning bills and the negative environmental impact of the “heat island effect” by planting shade trees to shade their homes and air conditioners. Qualifying customers can receive up to seven free shade trees by taking an online workshop, www.ladwp.com/trees. Customers can select from over 30 varieties of trees. Trees can also help with water runoff and helps to reduce air pollution, as well as beautify homes and neighborhoods.
Compact Fluorescent Light Bulb (CFL) Distribution
The LADWP strategically distributes CFLs to both familiarize residential customers with this extremely efficient light source as well as to save energy. In most cases, CFLs match or surpass light output of traditional incandescent bulbs using only 1/3 of the electricity. Over 400,000 CFLs have already been distributed citywide. LADWP encourages customers to change out incandescent bulbs for CFLs, which are easily found at local hardware and home repair locations.
Low-Income Refrigerator Exchange Program
LADWP is pleased to offer its Lifeline and Low Income Discount Rate Program customers the opportunity to replace their old, inefficient refrigerator with a FREE, new energy saving model. Participating customers will save money by using less energy, and help protect the environment by reducing the harmful emissions associated with power generation.
Online Energy Audits
LADWP provides a free online energy audit called Home Energy Save to educate residential customers on how to efficiently manage their electricity use efficiently. Just go to www.ladwp.com and click on residential programs, where there is a link to the interactive audit program.
Green Building and Affordable Housing Projects
The affordability of housing goes far beyond its first cost. LADWP uses energy efficiency as a means of reducing a home’s operating costs; thereby making it a more affordable home in which to reside. LADWP offers technical assistance to developers and architects of affordable housing projects. A broad range of energy efficiency products and systems are available for new affordable housing and green building projects.
The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, the nation’s largest municipal utility, provides reliable, low-cost water and power services to Los Angeles residents and businesses in an environmentally responsible manner. LADWP services about 1.4 million electric customers and 680,000 water customers in Los Angeles. For more information, visit www.ladwp.com.
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