SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

As parents look for ways to save money on back-to-school shopping, schools are looking to save too—on their energy costs. Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) is helping hundreds of schools do just that, through energy efficiency rebates. PG&E has provided 385 elementary and secondary school districts in Northern and Central California with more than $39 million in rebates since 2016. The districts have saved an estimated $45 million in energy costs annually.

The school districts utilized PG&E’s Savings by Design program for new construction and solar incentives, along with statewide program Proposition 39—California’s Clean Energy Jobs Act—to improve classroom environments, decrease energy usage, and reduce energy costs. PG&E’s programs offer cash incentives and technical assistance to help schools maximize energy performance and minimize project costs. PG&E provides energy consulting and support to ensure schools can get the most out of these programs.

“As a partner in the communities we serve, we value education. By helping schools become more energy efficient, they save on energy costs and can put that savings directly back into classrooms to support students and teachers,” said Vincent Davis, senior director of energy efficiency at PG&E.

California schools spend $700 million on energy annually according to the California Energy Commission. That’s nearly the same amount they spend on school supplies. PG&E’s rebates, discounts, and expert advice help make it easier for schools to save.

The energy efficiency projects are saving the school districts more than 308 million kilowatt hours (kWh) in electricity and more than 100,000 therms in gas annually—enough to power nearly 23,000 homes for an entire year and remove 45,000 cars from the road for one year.

Some of the projects eligible for energy upgrade incentives include repair and replacement of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, as well as new lighting and HVAC control systems, water heaters, kitchen appliances, window tinting, and onsite clean energy generation.

To learn more about how PG&E can help schools better manage energy consumption and reduce costs visit www.pge.com/schools or email [email protected] to contact a PG&E Account Manager.

About PG&E

Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation (NYSE:PCG), is one of the largest combined natural gas and electric utilities in the United States. Based in San Francisco, with more than 20,000 employees, the company delivers some of the nation’s cleanest energy to nearly 16 million people in Northern and Central California. For more information, visit www.pge.com and www.pge.com/en/about/newsroom/index.page.

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