LAKEPORT, Calif. – On Friday, Nov. 5, the county of Lake officially launched the “Lake County Energy Watch” program giving businesses, nonprofits, special districts, municipal facilities and residents new opportunities to achieve significant energy savings while saving money.
In addition to public education of energy efficiency measures available to all, Lake County Energy Watch is partnering with Richard Heath and Associates (RHA) to provide no- and low-cost lighting retrofits for government facilities – including city, state and federal facilities located in Lake County – as well as to nonprofit organizations and small businesses.
RHA oversees the Energy Fitness Program, an energy efficiency program available to all non-residential Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) customers in Lake County who use less than 200 kW of electricity per month.
The Energy Fitness Program offers lighting retrofits (remove and replace existing lighting for high energy efficient lighting) at no- or low-cost.
The retrofits include 4- and 8-foot linear fixtures, high bay fixtures, Energy Star compact fluorescent lamps, LED exit signs or retro kits, occupancy sensors, vending machine controllers, faucet aerators, as well as additional LED and other cost effective savings measures.
Most of these measures are at absolutely no cost – including removal and installation – with just a few of the options requiring a nominal surcharge.
Lake County Energy Watch was awarded $10,000 by PG&E to assist nonprofit organizations in Lake County with paying any applicable surcharge for lighting retrofits.
When nonprofits receive services from RHA through the Lake County Energy Watch program, RHA will invoice Lake County Energy Watch on behalf of the eligible organization.
Lake County Energy Watch is administered by PG&E using funding from California utility ratepayers under the auspices of the California Public Utilities Commission.
Energy Watch partnerships are designed to help local governments and their communities lower their energy bills and enjoy a cleaner environment.
Since July of 2008, District 3 Supervisor Denise Rushing has worked with community volunteers on the Lake County Energy Policy Council and county staff to launch Lake County Energy Watch.
LCEW will help save the county thousands of dollars in energy costs, provide funding for staff time, make educational materials available to the community and provide outreach throughout the duration of this project, which will end Dec. 31, 2012.
Energy efficiency measures implemented during the contract period will continue to garner savings into the future for the county and the community.
Lake County Energy Watch will utilize the momentum and talent of the Energy Policy Council’s 52 members to continue developing the outreach plan for increasing participation in energy efficiency programs, receive specialized energy efficiency offerings, and will be responsible for informing the community about the wide variety of energy efficiency and demand response offerings available from PG&E.
Lake County Energy Watch will offer a range of energy efficiency options for commercial, small business and residential customers, as well as county-owned and municipal facilities.
Energy efficiency seminars also will be offered in Lake County, as well as making county staff available to speak to community and civic organizations about energy efficiency programs.
For more information about the Lake County Energy Watch program, contact Michalyn DelValle at 707-263-2221 or visit
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