SoCalREN’s Energy Efficiency Metered Savings Program Saves Money and Time

MyHEAT recently moderated an ACEEE-hosted conversation on Innovative approaches to acquiring energy efficiency, and we were thoroughly impressed with the program approach and results shared by the Southern California Regional Energy Network (SoCalREN). We asked Lauren Seymour, a SoCalREN Program Manager, to dive deeper in this guest blog post.

How energy efficiency supports California’s climate goals

A leader in progressive energy policy, California is laser-focused on energy efficiency, and leveraging energy efficiency as a resource to achieve significant energy reduction goals. The energy reductions that can be achieved through energy efficiency projects will help California meet its climate commitments of reducing carbon emissions by 40% over 1990 levels by 2030. 

Related reading: Energy Efficiency in New York

Since its launch in 2019, the Southern California Regional Energy Network (SoCalREN) Metered Savings Program has contributed toward California’s emission reduction goals by achieving nearly 2 million kWh and over 400 kW in energy savings.

As a resource program created for public agencies, energy efficiency savings from these projects contribute to SoCalREN public sector goals, California’s energy resource procurement requirements, and statewide energy efficiency and greenhouse gas reduction goals.

SoCalREN’s expertise assists public agencies to drive energy savings

An innovative new program operated by SoCalREN is helping California public agencies get electricity-saving projects up and running faster.

The Southern California Regional Energy Network’s Metered Savings Program streamlines projects by offering access to SoCalREN’s energy efficiency expertise and technical services. These services include energy savings evaluation, project scoping, financing support, project management, and other resources, even for projects that are not eligible for incentives or rebates offered through alternative programs.

For California public agencies, program eligibility is determined based on energy savings measured at the meter, regardless of which energy efficiency measures are used to achieve those savings. Therefore, SoCalREN can offer support for a variety of project types, without a complex or confusing process to determine eligibility.

On average, projects in the Metered Savings Program take less than half the time to receive approval for construction than projects in alternative energy efficiency programs, such as the incentive programs currently offered by California’s investor-owned utilities. Even after projects are completed, the Metered Savings Program helps agencies to save energy. The Metered Savings Program offers post-construction training and ongoing support for operational staff to help them measure and manage their continued energy savings.

Los Angeles County and Culver City benefit from SoCalREN’s Metered Savings Program

Culver City

SoCalREN helped Culver City to complete a lighting retrofit project at their 5-level Cardiff Project structure, located in their popular downtown area.

The retrofit only took one week to complete and the full project timeline, from identification to completion, lasted only one year. Overall, this resulted in over $142,000 in lifetime cost savings and brought significant benefits to the public by making the parking areas brighter and easier to see.

Los Angeles County

SoCalREN helped Los Angeles County to complete energy efficiency upgrades at their Centro Maravilla and San Gabriel Valley Service Centers to reduce energy and gas use by an average of 42%. The project only took one year from energy audit to construction completion and will, over the course of the equipment lifetime, save the county over $839,000!

The retrofit only took one week to complete and the full project timeline, from identification to completion, lasted only one Like all SoCalREN’s programs and services for public agencies, the Metered Savings Program is offered at no cost for participants. In 2022, the program will also be expanding to offer incentives for energy projects. To learn more about the Metered Savings Program and to keep up to date on the latest program offerings, visit SoCalREN’s website.