Why I love Los Angeles Dept of Water and Power:

[kestrel91316]

A very nice young woman from DWP just left my office (1000 sf cat hospital) after coming in unannounced this AM to promote their Small Business Direct Install Program for energy efficiency upgrades for small businesses. She did a quick walk-through with a device to detect electronic ballasts in lighting, which I ony have in a couple of fixtures.

They are going to (at NO cost to me!!!!!!) install new electronic ballasts in all my overhead fluorescent light fixtures, install new more energy efficient bulbs, and save me over $800/year in energy costs!!!! That is a nearly 30% reduction in my electric bill!!!!!!!

As you might imagine, I am ecstatic. All along I assumed that because my fixtures were fluorescent, they were already the most efficient. I had absolutely no idea I could do better. They are gonna come in the next 2 or 3 weeks to do the work.

Pardon me while I go swoon.

[Liberal_in_LA]

1. congrats.

[depakid]

2. They're pretty good with policies like this

Also, they managed NOT to get scammed by the energy deregulation craze of the 1990's.

While other areas of the city experienced rolling blackouts, and other utilities lost big money, DWP sold surplus power and kept the lights (and the air conditioning) on.

Wise management.

[kestrel91316]

3. We The People own our DWP. It's a city utility, a rare thing these days.

[depakid]

7. Understood

and it works well.

Also, thank you for telling us as a businessperson the way things are IRL.

It's very much appreciated

[NNadir]

4. On the other hand, the LADWP owns 48.6% of Intermountain, 21.2% of Navajo

and intend to play a shell game by selling the plants they use to pollute other people's states.

We won't even talk about how much energy is involved in running the LA Aqueduct that LADWP used to completely destroy the Owen's Valley.

http://www.ethree.com/GHG/4%20Generator_Assignment_to_LSE%20v2.doc

Heckuva job LADWP. Heckuva job.

I don't love LADWP, but then I'm not some whiny airhead who is completely unfamiliar with the relative share of electricity that is involved with lighting.

In commercial buildings in 2000, it is estimated that 44% of the electricity use involved lighting, 24% on office equipment, and 14% on cooling, the largest three forms of energy.

The total consumption of these buildings in the United States was roughly 198 billion kwh.

http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/consumptionbriefs/cbecs/pbawebsite/office/office_howuseelec.htm

Meanwhile, that same year, total US electricity consumption was 4,264.97 billion kwh.

http://www.eia.doe.gov/pub/international/iealf/table62.xls

It follows that commercial lighting - if it were eliminated completely would save only 2% of US electricity, and that includes all of America's wonderful consumer/consumption palaces like shopping malls.

In the residential sector, it is well understood for anyone who looks that lighting consumes less than 9% of electricity - the largest consumer being the refrigerator.

For about 6 months of the year - and this includes the Yuppie heavens served by LADWP - all lighting efficiency is essentially useless since all of the waste is heat which of course is usually provided by burning dangerous fossil fuels in the worst case, and nuclear electricity in the best case.

I explained this quite clearly - although there is not one anti-nuke on this planet who can understand clear stuff since their thinking is so abysmally filled with clutter and litter - on another website in a piece called http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/1/8/185552/4950">Um, My Compact Fluorescent Bulb Is Hot. (Places and Times NOT to Conserve Electricity.) in which I discussed by undisguised contempt for the ignorant yuppie brats who are trying to destroy the climate change resistant structure of Vermont's electricity generation system because they are too stupid, too lazy and too mystical to ever open a fucking science book.

Of course, again, these calculations do not necessarily apply to LA, because the LADWP is pretty filthy, especially in the cases where it is generating power using other people's lung tissue, specifically the lung tissue of the same Navaho's that dumb anti-nukes pretend to care about whenever uranium is mentioned, and of course, the lung tissue of Nevadans, and Utahans.

In LA, of course, the most popular forms of space heating are burning dangerous and filthy natural gas, and, ironically enough, electricity.

From these calculations it's clear that the LADWP marketing program described in the opening post is just another one of those shell game bullshit exercises that put lipstick on the pig, to use the phrase that Mr. Obama so appropriately used.

Recently LADWP has been generating about 26,000 GWh of electricity. Thus given the 2% commercial lighting figure developed above, the entire commercial consumption of LADWP is probably on the order of 600 GWh, or, given that LADWP's capacity is 7200 MWe, about 144 MWe of generation capacity.

http://www.rmgfinancial.com/NAPCO%20Presentations%20(Jan%2006)/LADWP%20PLANNING%20TO%20MEET%20THE%20CHALLENGE%20(MARTINEZ).pdf

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Los_Angeles_Department_of_Water_and_Power

Thus if all of the commercial offices agreed to live in physical darkness - by never using electricity at all for lighting - as opposed to the intellectual darkness expressed in the anti-nuke's opening post - it wouldn't even amount to enough to shut LADWP's share of Intermountain.

In general the "conservation will save us" meme consists entirely of self-delusion and denial.

Conservation can help a little but - irrespective of the complete and total ignorance on the part of the anti-nukes of the second law of thermodynamics - it cannot even begin to address the scale of the real problem.

[Name removed]

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[The Croquist]

8. The modifications to your office are not free

It's only free to you. The customers of DWP are footing the bill. Some of these customers put in efficient systems at their own expense and are now being forced to pay for your conversion. You shouldn't feel so smug nor should you use foul language. Didn't your mother teach you manners?

[kestrel91316]

9. I have been paying into the fund that pays for these upgrades

for 25 years. It is a city-owned utility and the city is making a wise investment by doing this. Far better than building another coal-fired power plant IMHO.

I know, how very SOCIALIST of us Angelenos to choose to do such a thing. Waste is so much more American.

[kristopher]

11. Avoided costs.

Your second point about the coal plant is an extremely strong economic argument. There is no cheaper electricity than that which you don't have to generate.

The profit model - either the deregulated version or the cost plus regulated version - provides absolutely no incentive for demand side management. That is the fundamental reason our electric consumption is so high; the majority of utilities are designed to motivate an increase in consumption.

[The Croquist]

12. You payed for this for 25 years and you love them?

If I were you I would ask for my money back. At $800.00 per year times 25 years that would be $20,000.00 that you overpaid waiting for them to come out to do this "free service". What were they doing all those years?

Now in actuality I doubt that the program has been in effect for 25 years and I realize that it wasn't $800.00 per year because electric costs were much lower 25 years ago.

Wouldn't it have been better if they gave free audits quicker by hiring more auditors and let you decide if you wanted the improvements instead of doing all of it themselves? That way they could have lowered the fees to everyone including those that had already made efficiency improvements out of their own pockets and you could decide what is best for you. If you were moving in 6 months it probably wouldn't be worth it but any business person worth their salt would jump at an opportunity to make a 100% return on investment in one year.

[kestrel91316]

15. Are you thick? I have been buying electricity from LADWP since I moved

here 25 years ago. They have a budget for future energy needs as the city grows and needs increase (because they are SMARTER than a box of rocks). Rather than spending that on a new power plant or three, they are investing it in conservation measures.

Everyone who uses utility-produced electricity has to pay for it. Even YOU, I suspect. Part of the income the utility generates has to be budgeted for repairs, maintenance, and new facilities. You DO understand these basic business concepts, right? DWP is a city DEPARTMENT, not a for-profit business, so at least my money has never gone into the black hole of corporate profiteering.

Oh, and we totally escaped the energy catastrophe brought about by Cheney and Enron and friends BECAUSE our utility is run by forward-thinking people who understand that they serve the people and not Mammon.

[The Croquist]

18. I'm thick around the waste but I think it's you that doesn't get it

You said "I have been paying into the fund that pays for these upgrades for 25 years" but they only recently showed up to audit and make you more efficient. Perhaps if 10 years ago you had improved your efficiency yourself by hiring a "for-profit business" instead of waiting 10 years you could have saved allot more money then getting it for "free". You could also have helped save on "repairs, maintenance, and new facilities" by helping yourself but apparently you think that, that was too much to ask.

I understand basic business concepts but I'm not sure you do since the above statement doesn't make sense to you.

You mention that you have your own business but you condemn "for-profit business(es)." Maybe you operate your business for free without taking a salary but I hope not.

My neighbor, Dave, is all concerned about Global Warming and demands that the government does something about it. He has one CFL in his 3,500 square foot house (two people), drives a car that gets 19 miles a gallon and takes multiple long flight vacations a year. He would agree with you.

[kestrel91316]

19. So, what is your solution to my situation? Should I have refused

to accept the free upgrades?

Yes or no?

Should I call them and demand that they come back and remove the stuff? Seriously.

My budget never allowed for lighting upgrades of this magnitude. My money always had to go to more urgent needs, which I doubt you would understand. I am quite sure you have never run a small business like mine on such a tight shoestring.

When did I condemn "for profit businesses" in general? I merely pointed out the obvious superiority of our publically-owned utility.

I am NOT your alleged neighbor, Dave. I am my own person. You know absolutely nothing about my personal lifestyle and choices. You have no clue about the sacrifices I have made in my life decisions with an eye toward making the world a better place.

Why do you hate energy conservation? Do you work for a for-profit utility, lol? Sure sounds like it. Either that, or you are a Republican or Libertarian, and I would remind you that this is not called Democratic Underground for no reason. If you find us Democrats and our values so despicable, I suggest you find somewhere else to go flinging your insults.

Edit: If you have a neighbor who lives wastefully in a 3500 sf home, you must live in a pretty nice neighborhood of large wasteful homes. I personally occupy 800 sf. Who's the one who needs to do a little self-examination in this picture? Hm, and you are in GA. No comment.

[The Croquist]

20. You should have planned ahead.

After 17 years in business you couldn't afford to hire an electrician for an hour? I hope that's not true.

I have a small business and I live on a tight budget but I've always found the time and money to save money.

"Non profit" businesses are not obviously superior to "for profit" businesses. If you feel that way maybe you should close your "for profit" business and go work for a "non profit". You could probably do better as a "non profit". You wouldn't have to pay sales tax, property tax or income tax for starters. The fact that the government loses out on the revenue that a "for profit" would pay is besides the point right?

I saved $800 this week too. On Monday I climbed into a septic tank and installed a new Effluent Pump in a rental house I own. The pump cost me $163.00 plus tax. I got it at Home Depot. It was a real beauty. Here it is:

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10051&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&productId=100178457&N=10000003+90401+502426

The plumber wanted $1,000. Don't tell me I don't have a clue about sacrifices.

I have never worked for a utility of any kind and I am a big fan of conservation. I keep my house cool in the winter and warm in the summer. The vast majority of my lights are CFLs and my car gets 33 miles per gallon. For 10 years I took the bus and/or the train to work until I realized that I kept getting sick from all the coughing people I was traveling with.

I love my neighborhood. My alleged neighbor, Dave bought the house for $165,000 about 2 years ago (actually his girl friend bought it). My house is worth maybe $130,000. I've lived in it for 22 years. How much is your 800 square foot home worth?

PS: This Georgian lives in Cynthia McKinney's old district and wrote her in two years ago after she lost the primary.

[kestrel91316]

32. "Should have" is not an answer to my question. You know ABSOLUTELY

nothing about my personal financial situation or life circumstances, so you're just babbling.

Here's the deal: not having a clue that my lighting was not the most efficient (I'm a veterinarian, not an electrician), I had no plans to replace anything other than two damaged fixtures in the forseeable future. I do not believe in replacing entire functioning light fixtures for the hell of it, and did not know there was anything more energy efficient.

So when LADWP walked in the door with this offer, what makes the most business sense right then and there? Accept the offer? Or reject the offer? I chose to accept.

LADWP has made the decision that paying for upgrades in small businesses is cheaper than building new power plants, so this is how they have chosen to spend part of their budget. What exactly about this has your panties in a wad? Oh, I KNOW - you don't believe in publically owned utilities, right? You think only private businesses should provide power. Or maybe you're angry that someone other than yourself runs DWP??

Like I said, this is DEMOCRATIC Underground, not Libertarian Underground or Republican Underground. Democrats support publically owned utilities, last I heard, and also supported conservation of fossil fuels.

I have made many decisions in my past that, in retrospect, were perhaps not the best decision, but unlike YOU, OH MIGHTY ONE, I do not have a magic crystal ball to look into the future and see all circumstances with.

Go insult someone else.

[The Croquist]

38. Good post

This isn't about public versus private utilities. I use an EMC which is kind of a co-op. My understanding is that the members of Walton EMC (GA) own it. I've been a "member" for about 22 years. They get tax breaks that the big power company, Georgia Power, doesn't but they buy their power through Georgia Power so I wonder about the sense of it all. Regardless their rates are competitive.

As I posted earlier I would prefer that they gave free audits to let you know about the situation and let you decide what to do. I was surprised to find out about different efficiency rates regarding fluorescents as well and consider myself fairly competent as a handyman. I don't fault you for not doing it yourself.

Everyone has different skills. You refer to your business as a "1000 sf cat hospital". I take that to mean you are a vet. Being a vet is not something I would be comfortable doing. You may not want to climb in a septic tank. I don't blame you for that either, I didn't want to either but lost the coin toss with my business partner.

Anyway, what has my "panties in a wad" is that you were so proud of it being free. If it was me I would have it done as well but I would acknowledge that it wasn't right. I guess that makes me a hypocrite but in some ways we all are. The IRS lets me depreciate my rental properties even though they go up in value. That's stupid but I take it anyway.

I don't think my initial post was insulting except for the comment about foul language and the post you made that I was referring to was deleted.

[NNadir]

13. Man oh man!

You mean you weren't noble enough to go out and buy your damn high efficiency crap yourself - sending the waste electronics off to some landfill or worse - some Chinese recycling plant where their average child has 15 times the "safe" lead levels of an American kid?

Instead you waited 25 years.

You must be very proud.

You still are incredibly clueless though about where your electricity comes from.

I don't want to challenge you too much but see if you can get a friend to help you add 50 + 29 to find out how much DWP of gets from dangerous fossil fuel waste mining, dangerous fossil fuel burning, and dangerous fossil fuel waste dumping.

Then, if you're not burned out, add 9 + 7 to get the amount produced from nuclear power and hydro.

Then, see if you add all 4 numbers!

Without a doubt, the largest single source of L.A.’s energy comes from the filthiest of fuels: coal. Nearly 50 percent comes from coal, 29 percent from natural gas, 9 percent from nuclear, about 7 percent from large hydro, and the rest from renewable resources.

http://www.metroinvestmentreport.com/mir/?module=displaystory&story_id=403&format=html

I'll bet you find that 5% of your electricity comes from wind and solar, even though you seem to wish to pretend 100% of it does. Specifically you couldn't care less that even if LADWP doesn't build another coal plant it is already disgustingly filthy.

Since you want to wax romantic about socialism, I note another great socialist coal burning organization. It was called "East Germany." The capitalists were handed the entire socialist wonderland, belching coal, and shut those socialist plants, which were even dirtier than the socialist LADWP plants.

You of course, will be happy to learn that Germany is fond of the old days and will be building lots of new coal plants because of the activities of stupid anti-nukes in their country.

[Name removed]

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[kristopher]

21. Actually Kestrel is absolutely correct, and you have no idea about what your are blathering about

You conveniently ignored the fact that the demand side management program is the result of an economic analysis conducted by the utility to determine the least expensive way to meet future demand. The avoided costs of a new power plant are greater than the same or greater gains achieved through conservation initiated by the utility.

I have absolutely no doubt that an inventory of your lifestyle would find substantial room for improvements in energy efficiency and conservation that you've either never considered or deemed not worth the trouble. Your blatant ignorance regarding the subject of climate change is all the evidence needed to convict you of being not only a more than a little slow on the uptake, but also gullible and prone to extremely shallow analysis. Not to mention that your comments regarding other people having to pay for these improvements and your attempts at belittling someone (especially when you are so wrong) show you to be extremely self centered and - simply put - a generally mean spirited human being.

[NNadir]

23. You have no doubt that I am mean spirited. Good.

In spite of having a very low level of perceptual ability you seem to have picked up on my contempt for ignorance.

You know, I don't like you very much, either - to put it very, very, very, very mildly - which demonstrates my complete consistency.

[bananas]

24. "You know, I don't like you very much, either - to put it very, very, very, very mildly"

[kristopher]

29. Confused?

Confused about which alias you posted under?

You respond to my post to Croquist as if it were to you, and in another thread where 'Croquist' responds there is a totally apropos-of-nothing bit of sweet talk about YOU.

I smell a dirty sock...puppet.

[NNadir]

30. Oh grow up.

It just may be that there are lots of long term posters at Democratic Underground who regard you as mindless fluff.

That's hardly surprising. You are mindless fluff.

The entire anti-nuke community has been saying the same shit here for years - and concealing its vast ignorance by insisting on having a personal conversation. Basically besides being abysmally informed on every subject, they're big on conspiracy theories and arbitrary criteria.

[kristopher]

31. Why did *you* answer that post?

It wasn't to Nnadir and there isn't really an easy way to see you thinking it was unless you are playing both roles. Any Nuclear Energy Institute PR shill working these boards would certainly not be shy about using sock puppets; it is a stock strategy.

Don't think for a second that the 'conspiracy theory' accusation carries any weight either. Care for me to post the resume of the puke from the NEI who specifies working message boards as part of his skill set? You've seen it before...

[Name removed]

37. Deleted message

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[The Croquist]

26. What I'm talking about is

if people stepped up to the plate and helped themselves instead of waiting for years for somebody else to do it for them, the utility, the customers, the country and the environment would have been better off.

What is so hard to understand that if kestrel91316 had initiated these improvements years ago that everybody including him would have been better off?

You are correct in that my lifestyle has plenty of room for improvement in terms of energy efficiency but at least I did something about it myself instead of waiting for somebody else to do it and then brag about it.

I think that my comments about it being wrong to get other people to pay for something for you shows the complete opposite from being self centered. I didn't write this sentence "They are going to (at NO cost to me!!!!!!)" kestrel91316 did. That sounds pretty self centered to me.

As for me being mean spirited:
There are two deleted messages on this post. One was to NNadir from kestrel91316 and the other was to me but I don't know who sent it. Were the deleted messages mean spirited? Although I often agree with NNadir on issues I will agree that he is often condescending but so are many other posters. I wish he would be more tactful (like me). Regardless he posts facts and facts are important. I respect him for that.

[kristopher]

27. If frog had wings he wouldn't bump his ass.

You admit there is room for improvement in your own realm while still continuing to defend your attack? Sure, that makes sense. What are you waiting for then?

How do you know how much Kestrel has done to address energy issues other than this episode? Where do you get off making the presumption that his/her entire effort in that area is encapsulated in this one episode?

As to the improvements being part of the program, who doesn't enjoy getting a surprise financial windfall? I don't see that nearly as much of an indicator of personal greed as your reaction entire to the episode; which seems to be based solidly on perverted rethuglican style view of "personal responsibility".

Self centered and mean spirited fits.

[Name removed]

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[kestrel91316]

14. Update:

The electrical contracters came yesterday and in a little less than an hour, replaced ALL the old ballasts in my fixtures with new electronic ballasts, fixed a couple of broken bulb mounts, and put new high-efficiency T8 bulbs in. The place looks a lot better, much brighter. And my electric bills should drop by about 30%. THIRTY PERCENT.

For those of you who don't understand basic math: I have been paying my electric bills for this business for 17 years. DWP has a fund they pay into where they budget for future energy needs of the city. Customarily this would mean building or buying or leasing more power plants. But as someone said above, the cheapest energy it what you DON'T use, so investing in conservation measures is highly appropriate. DWP has run the numbers and decided that the small amount of money they put into energy upgrades for small business is a very small price to pay to avoid building new power plants.

LADWP is a CITY DEPARTMENT, not a for-profit business. I suspect those who pooh-pooh this sort of measure are secretly just jealous because their sacred cows, the for-profit energy providers, don't do anything remotely resembling this for their customers.

[kristopher]

16. Now according to Jevon's (non) Paradox

You are not actually going to experience this savings. Instead, you are going to be so excited about this increase in the efficiency of your lighting you are going to run out and buy another building so you have more space to illuminate.

Or at least it is something like that the doomers like to say...

In any case, I'll bet you are going to enjoy lower bills.

[kestrel91316]

17. Exactly. I have no plans to expand my business physically.

For a little guy like me, the cost savings makesa REAL WORLD difference. Money has been real tight of late, and I not only get permanently reduced power bills, I can remove "Upgrade/Repair Lighting" from my "Projects to do when I win the lottery" list, lol.

[Nihil]

22. Quick congrats!

Glad to read about this stuff (despite some of the negatives in this
thread) and even more so that you are benefitting from it (rather than
just reporting a snippet from someone else's newspaper)!

:hi:

Our (privatised) gas company has recently sent all of its customers
four CFLs so, although I haven't got any use for them immediately,
they'll come in handy when one of my existing ones goes.

I know that sometimes this stuff is just greenwash but it also has
two very real benefits: It shows other companies that there is a
real business benefit in green actions and it provides a kick in the
right direction for the members of the general public who "haven't
got round to it yet".

(BTW, the company above also supplies electricity to some people and
so the CFLs aren't as strange as might appear at first ... we only use
them for gas though so I still think of them as "the gas company"!)

[The Croquist]

25. Use the CFLs today

Take out the 4 incandescents that you use most and replace them with the CFLs. I just lost my second CFL after 3 - 5 years (I didn't write down when I installed it).

They will save you money. First they use less electricity. Try touching a lit incandescent (actually don't) and then a lit CFL. That heat is a loss of energy and energy costs you money. It's not so bad in the winter because it is heating your house (electric heat is expensive compared to gas) but in the summer you spend even more money removing the heat from your house using air conditioning or fans. They also last much longer.

When you decide that you are comfortable with them, replace most of your incandescents. An exception is a garage door opener.

Friends of mine have found that the bulbs don't like garage door openers probably because of the vibration but they seem to work in my ceiling fan fixtures, they look weird in decorative fixtures and "specialty" bulbs are still expensive so I didn't replace those. As my fixtures need replacing I will put in different types to accommodate them.

Respectfully,
The "self-centered" Croquist

[Nihil]

28. Sorry, I wasn't clear ...

I have already replaced all of the standard incandescents that
can be replaced with CFLs - hence am keeping the free gift ones
for when the existing CFLs give up the ghost!
:hi:

Replacing that lot a few years ago also means that I have an
almost endless supply of incandescents for my Angle-Poise
(which is my only regular incandescent bulb left as it just
slumps pathetically if I put a CFL in it!).

Interestingly enough, replacing one of the reflector spots in my
kitchen 3-spot-fixture has increased the life of the other two by
an incredible amount - they used to go regularly but none have
died since the first CFL went into the fixture. Guess that the
CFL is dampening out the pulse when switching on (as this was when
the reflector spots would usually go 'ping').

Thanks for the thought though! :toast:

[kestrel91316]

33. You will be happy to know that the very same day, that crew

of three very hard-working young men took care of the lighting upgrade at my two neighbors - the print shop and the dry cleaner. Everybody is happy now! Ant this one building is using way less electricity as I speak.

[The Croquist]

34. This wasn't addressed to me but I am glad.

I wish you had done it earlier but it's a good thing for everyone.

Please let us know how the actual savings works out. If you can, a comparison between your October bill 2008 versus the 2007 in kilowatts would be great. I'm curious as to see if it really was about 30%. I doubt that the bill will be 30% less because of higher per kilowatt charges but I would like to see it. Maybe it will convince others to try and improve their efficiency. I think everyone, including NNadir, would agree that increased efficiency is a good thing.

If it works out maybe you, me and others can spread the word to have people check out their efficiencies not just at work but at home. I don't have enough non CFL fluorescents at home to make much difference but many others may.

[kestrel91316]

35. I found a link for the program that provided my lighting upgrade:

http://www.ladwp.com/ladwp/cms/ladwp010211.jsp

Small Business Direct Install (SBDI) Program

The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power has a new program for small businesses that will offer FREE energy efficient lighting equipment.

The Small Business Direct Install Program
Saves Energy and Money

Qualifying LADWP customers can receive:

• FREE Lighting Assessment
• FREE Lighting Upgrades (up to $2,500 in costs)
• FREE Installation
• Long Term Energy Savings
• Lower Energy Bills

The Small Business Direct Install Program is another incentive designed to make Los Angeles the “Greenest” big city in the country by assisting small businesses in becoming more energy efficient. Small businesses that reduce their energy load can save money and utilize the savings to expand their businesses creating more jobs.

Reducing energy not only helps your business, it also benefits the entire City. Lowering your energy load will reduce greenhouse gas emissions that impact climate change.

Start Saving Now

Getting started is easy. First a SBDI Program authorized contractor will visit your small business and conduct an on-site lighting assessment to help identify energy saving opportunities.

The contractor will develop a plan to improve your lighting and reduce the energy usage. Once the business has agreed to the energy plan, licensed professionals will retrofit the old, inefficient lighting with new state of the art technology. The old equipment will be removed and recycled in an environmentally friendly manner.

Each participating business will receive a maximum of $2,500 in FREE energy efficient lighting upgrades. If the business chooses to install lighting improvements beyond the SBDI Program limit, the cost will be at the same low rate per fixture and the business may also qualify for additional rebates from the LADWP.

The SBDI program addresses difficulties that small businesses often have in upgrading their lighting:

• Time is spent running the business, not managing energy use
• Unfamiliar with efficiency options
• The cost of the improvements
• The property owner doesn’t pay the energy bill

Program Quality Control

In order to ensure the quality of the equipment and installation, LADWP representatives will randomly inspect some installations to ensure complete customer satisfaction.

Eligibility

Small businesses on rate schedule A1 are eligible to participate in the SBDI program (look on your LADWP bill for the A1 rate code) and receive energy saving lighting system upgrades for equipment, such as:

Fluorescent Lighting

Retrofitting T12 lamps and magnetic ballast fixtures to High Performance or reduced wattage T8 lamps and electronic ballasts can save your business 33% or more on lighting costs and can assist in reducing your cooling costs.

Exit Signs

Changing out inefficient exit signs to more energy efficient ones that use less than 5 watts can save up to 95% on electricity costs. They operate cooler and can save up to $1,000 over the lifetime of each sign.

To participate in this exciting new program simply allow the authorized SBDI Program Representative to perform a lighting assessment, review the assessment report and agree to the work proposed. To ensure you are contacted by an authorized SBDI Program Contractor when they visit your Zip Code please complete a Customer Request Form. The link to the Customer Request Form is on the right side of this web page in the Related Link Section or you may go to www.ladwp-sbdi.com

LADWP Supports Energy Conservation

The Small Business Direct Install Program is part of the LADWP Green LA Environmental Programs that also include Energy and Water Conservation, Trees for a Green LA, in conjunction with the Million Tree Initiative, Green Power, Solar Power and Recycling.

The LADWP offers a number of programs for businesses, such as the Commercial Lighting Efficiency Offer (CLEO), Refrigeration, Custom Performance Program (CPP), New Construction, and our Chiller Replacement Program.

Information on these environmental programs, as well as energy and water saving tips, are available at LADWP’s website. Simply click on the navigation link of the programs of interest displayed on the left side of the screen or call the Commercial Resource Center 1-800-499-8840.

The largest municipally owned utility in the nation, the LADWP was established more than 100 years ago to provide water and electricity to meet the needs of the City’s residents and businesses. LADWP currently serves more than 4 million people in the City of Los Angeles.

NOTE: All LADWP Energy Conservation programs are subject to available funding and may be suspended at any time without notice.

Los Angeles Department of Water and Power: We’re Working for LA! Water for life! Power to LA!


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The fluorescent light T12 to T8 retrofit is what I had.
For those of you who think this and/or their MANY other incentive programs are EVIL, or who believe that I should not have qualified for this program because I am somehow deficient in something, here's the contact information for LADWP's governing board:
http://www.ladwp.com/ladwp/cms/ladwp001861.jsp

Of course, if you are not a customer of LADWP, I suppose they will just laugh at you and tell you to go pound sand.

[kestrel91316]

36. Link to the City of Los Angeles DWP 2007 Integrated Resource Plan:

http://www.ladwp.com/ladwp/cms/ladwp010273.pdf

And please, anybody who has a beef with this report: I am not interested in your opinion. You may address your complaints directly to the LADWP Board of Directors, lol.