BAKERSFIELD, CA — A simple flip of a switch saved the County of Kern $24,000 in a nine-month period. The dollar savings continue to add up as the County monitors the results of energy efficiency projects completed in its Department of Human Services warehouse building and General Services Division maintenance shop.
These energy-saving projects were stimulated by the County’s involvement in the Kern Energy Watch Partnership, a joint project of Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), the County of Kern and participating municipalities. PG&E and the program partners work together to reduce energy usage, better manage energy costs and promote sustainable communities.
Dave White, Energy Coordinator for the County of Kern’s General Services Division, instigated the DHS warehouse savings a few years ago by performing an energy analysis on the building at 444 California Avenue. “Back then, over 300 incandescent light bulbs burned much of the day, even though the building was unoccupied most of the time,” said White. The Human Services Department maintenance staff encouraged new energy conservation training for employees, which will reduce their energy costs by $30,000 in a year.
This May, the County increased its dollar savings by replacing three hundred and fifteen 300-watt incandescent bulbs in the DHS warehouse and Lower Furniture Warehouse with 65-watt compact fluorescent bulbs, better known as CFLs. The County, which received the three hundred and fifteen CFLs at no charge from PG&E, is monitoring its electric bills to determine the total dollar savings achieved through this single project. In general, CFLs use up to 75 percent less energy and last 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs.
In June, the County turned its attention to the Department of General Services maintenance shop at 610 East 15th Street. PG&E provided free lighting and installation for the project, replacing 56 430-watt metal halide fixtures with 56, T-5 fluorescent fixtures.
Under the leadership of Jeff Frapwell, Assistant County Administrative Officer for General Services, the County is aggressively pursuing energy-efficiency programs. “We have changed thousands of magnetic ballasts fluorescent fixtures to electronic ballasts, hundreds of incandescent to compact fluorescent lamps and countless other energy efficient upgrades,” said Frapwell. “As an example, by switching to high-performance T8 lamps and electronic ballasts, we anticipate reducing energy consumption for lighting by an estimated 20 percent.”
In addition, the County has switched hundreds of old exit signs to LED models, which reduce maintenance costs as well as electricity costs. Occupancy sensors are being installed throughout County facilities to turn lights off when they aren’t needed. Most of the County’s vending machines have been equipped with controls that turn off the machine’s lights when the area is unoccupied.
“Our participation in the Kern Energy Watch partnership has been important in helping us save energy in County and municipal facilities by providing free products and installation services,” said Frapwell. “Increasing our energy efficiency is not only good for the County’s budget; it’s also good for our air quality.”
Frapwell added that Kern Energy Watch has been a positive force in educating the County’s employees and vendors, as well as the public, on how to save energy.
Kern Energy Watch is funded by California utility customers and administered by PG&E under the auspices of the California Public Utilities Commission.
