• Receives California's prestigious 'Flex Your Power' award
SAN FRANCISCO, CA, May 3, 2007 -- Flex Your Power, California's statewide energy efficiency campaign, has recognized the City of San Diego Water Department as a leader in energy efficiency with a Flex Your Power Award. A total of 41 winners were selected from several hundred applicants for outstanding leadership in energy efficiency. Cumulatively, award winners over the last two years have saved more than $172 million, one billion kilowatt hours and reduced greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to removing almost 85,000 cars from the road. This year's 5th Annual Flex Your Power Awards Ceremony will be held at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, May 5 at the San Francisco Concourse Exhibition Center.
The City of San Diego Water Department's Water Conservation Program directly accounts for approximately 30,000 acre-feet of potable water savings per year, which is approximately 13 percent of the City's total water use. This savings is achieved by creating a water conservation ethic; adopting new innovative programs, policies and ordinances designed to promote water conservation practices; and implementing comprehensive public information and education campaigns. The water savings have also produced a 2,030,000 kWh electricity savings, and a $191,000 overall cost reduction.
"The power of conserving water saves money on your water bill, conserves energy and helps the environment," said Luis Generoso, Water Resource Manager. "Although it's quite a challenge, we strive to conserve an additional 700 acre-feet of water a year because it saves water and energy. We want to thank San Diegans for voluntarily stepping up to the challenge and making water conservation a way of life here."
Of the award winners, Director Walter McGuire of Flex Your Power said, "The awards present an opportunity for California to congratulate the leadership shown by this year's Flex Your Power award winners who have demonstrated that we can all save money and the environment. By reducing their energy use, this year's Flex Your Power award winners have saved more than $30 million and reduced global warming emissions equivalent to taking 40,250 cars off the road."
In addition to the California Public Utilities Commission, Flex Your Power Award winners were selected by senior representatives from the California Independent System Operator, California Energy Commission, California Urban Water Conservation Council, League of California Cities, Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, Building Owners and Managers Association, Silicon Valley Leadership Group, and Southern California Edison. For more information on the 5th Annual Flex Your Power Awards, visit www.flexyourpower.org.
The City of San Diego's Water Conservation Program reduces water demand through promoting or providing incentives for the installation of hardware that provides permanent water savings, and by providing services and information to help San Diegans make better decisions about water use. For more information about Water Conservation, visit www.sandiego.gov/water/conservation or call (619) 515-3500.
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