State Reduces Energy Consumption, Saving Taxpayers $1.6 Million

HARRISBURG – Citing the state’s aggressive work to conserve and reduce energy consumption in all state-owned office buildings, Department of General Services Secretary James P. Creedon said the commonwealth has achieved a 10-percent reduction in energy consumption or $1.6 million in savings for taxpayers.

Creedon made the announcement with PUC Chairman Wendell F. Holland during the opening of “Energy Expo 2007” in the Keystone Building atrium.
“By replacing incandescent lighting with fluorescent bulbs, eliminating non-essential appliances, turning off power when it’s not needed and creating standard office temperature settings, we have dramatically reduced our energy use,” Creedon said. “We are not done, however. Our goal is to realize an energy savings of 20 percent by the year 2011.”

Energy Expo 2007 is part of “Energy Conservation Week,” which was designated for April 22-28 by Gov. Edward G. Rendell.

Through a 2004 executive order, Rendell placed the Department of General Services in charge of an energy management and conservation campaign for state-owned facilities. The order required long-term planning for reduced consumption by every executive-branch agency.

DGS implemented a series of energy conservation measures throughout state- owned and non-state-owned, or leased, facilities. By implementing the new energy conservation practices, the commonwealth reduced energy use by 9.5 percent in 2006.

Employees were asked to remove non-approved electrical devices, including personal toasters, popcorn makers, hair dryers, curling irons, space heaters, refrigerators, lamps, clocks, and radios.

Energy-efficient fluorescent lighting is replacing incandescent lighting throughout the buildings. Additionally, every other light bulb has been
removed in overhead lighting fixtures and lights have been turned off in many vending machines.

Employees are also being encouraged to turn off office lights and use as much natural light as practical. They are also being asked to turn off equipment –- including computers, copiers and calculators -– when they are not using them, and especially at the end of the work day and during weekends and holidays.

Additionally, most offices are being vacuumed weekly instead of daily. Where practical, office temperature settings are now 74 degrees in the summer and 68 degrees in winter. This excludes areas that have unique environmental needs.

Holland said the PUC is working to provide innovative tools to empower and educate consumers to reduce energy use and save money. The goal is to adopt recommendations this spring that will allow consumers to decrease energy use through reasonable, cost-effective energy efficiency, demand-side response and advanced metering programs.

“The PUC hopes to build on existing programs that help consumers reduce their energy usage, lower energy bills and enhance electric reliability,” said Holland. “We also are working to educate consumers about simple changes in habits that can save energy and, in the end, money.”

The PUC also continues to support renewable energy as it works to implement the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards Act, which requires that a certain percentage of all electric energy sold to retail customers be derived from alternative energy sources. The Legislative Budget and Finance Committee said during an audit that the PUC is making “good progress” in implementing the act.

Energy Expo 2007 included 55 exhibits showcasing the energy conservation initiatives and conservation measures by state agencies, energy service companies, utilities and transit agencies.

DGS is responsible for the construction of all capital projects, excluding highways and bridges. DGS also works to incorporate “green” building practices into any new or renovation project and administers the Energy Service Company program, which is designed to provide energy-efficient rehabilitation of existing facilities.