Energy Upgrade California

• Energy Upgrade California is the state’s energy management brand.

• We educate Californians about saving energy through a variety of marketing, education and outreach (ME&O) channels.

• Funding comes from investor-owned utility customers (rate payers) under the auspices of the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC).

• Supported by an alliance of stakeholders including California Energy Commission (CEC), four investor-owned utilities (IOUs) and regional energy networks (RENs) and local governments.

Brand Objectives

• Educate Californians on why energy use matters.

• Motivate Californians to learn more about saving energy.

• Activate Californians to make better choices.

• Bear Valley Electric Service • Liberty Utilities • PacifiCorp • Pacific Gas & Electric • San Diego Gas & Electric • Southern California Edison • Southern California Gas

Our California Utility Partners

Connect with Energy Upgrade CA

Social Media

Facebook.com/EnergyUpgradeCalifornia Facebook.com/SBESC

Campaign Hashtag: #StayGoldenCA

Instagram: @ca_energybear

Twitter: @EnergyUpgradeCA @SBESC

#

4

Home Improvement: Lighting

• The right energy efficient light is worth it and will make whatever you do under it better.

• There are a variety of lighting options in color and light levels you can consider to create the right ambiance for each room in your home using the same amount of light for less money and helping California Stay Golden!

• One of the simplest ways to save energy and money is to switch to energy-efficient lights. When shopping for energy efficient light bulbs, look for lumens, not watts. (Lumens are a measure of the amount of brightness a bulb puts out, while watts are a measure of the energy used.) Checking the lumens, rather than watts, will give you an actual indication of the bulb’s brightness.

• Since newer light bulbs are more efficient, it will take fewer watts to get the same amount of lumens as an older incandescent bulb. By replacing your old bulbs with ENERGY STAR®LED bulbs you can save $30 to $80 in energy bills.

• While the initial price of energy efficient light bulbs is

typically higher than traditional incandescents, newer bulbs cost less to operate and last longer, saving consumers money over the life of bulb. Energy-saving, LED light bulbs are about 75% more efficient and can last up to three times longer than traditional incandescent bulbs.

• If you can’t afford to swap out all of your inefficient lighting

for more efficient products, changing just the five most frequently used in your home to those with an ENERGY STAR® designation could save you around $40 each year.

5

Home Improvement: Lighting

Selecting the right lighting for each room in your home can make a difference in creating a pleasant and inviting ambiance. Some tips for maximizing lighting in different rooms include:

• Dining rooms: a warm color temperature will create an

inviting glow perfect for entertaining • Living rooms: warm and dim ambient lighting helps

maintain a relaxed atmosphere, while table lamps near reading areas provide ample task lighting

• Hallways: install accent lighting for paintings and other decorations

• Bathrooms: installing fixtures with warm color temperatures on both sides of the vanity mirror to reflect light evenly and reduce shadows across the face

• Home office: choose natural white lighting for your desk to prevent eye strain

Light color is measured on a temperature scale referred to as a Kelvin. Most bulbs are now available in a wide range of light colors, matching a temperature on the Kelvin scale. Lower Kelvin numbers mean the light appears more yellow and the higher the Kelvin numbers mean the light is whiter or bluer. • For warm or soft white, look for bulbs marked 2,700-

3,000K. • For a whiter light, look for bulbs marked 3500-4100K. • For bluer white light, look for bulbs marked 5000-6500K.

To learn more about lighting and others ways to manage your energy use, visit

www.energyupgradeca.org.

6

Californians can save up to hundreds of dollars a year by not only investing in LED lighting, but also taking extra steps to save energy. Steps include:

• Turn off light when you leave a room: Simply turning off lights when they are not in use can lead to impressive cost savings

• Use solar outdoor lights: Small, solar-powered lights for lining your driveway and walkways are inexpensive, economical and attractive

• Use LED lights for the holidays: Little changes add up, especially when you are installing 1,000 holiday lights

• Install dimmers on overhead lights: Instead of stark on/off switches, dimmers help you adjust the mood while saving energy

• Use small lamps for small jobs: If you are reading alone, use a reading lamp rather than lighting the entire room

• Use motion-detector lights outdoors: Since they only turn on when they’re needed, these lights are convenient and efficient options

Home Improvement: Lighting

Home Improvement: Home Upgrade

The Energy Upgrade California® Home Upgrade Program helps make home improvements to achieve a more energy-efficient home, and it helps California reach its new energy goals: • California will need to

generate half of its electricity from renewable sources such as solar and wind by 2030

• The state will need to double energy efficiency in homes, offices, and factories

Home Improvement: Home Upgrade

By making several home improvements at once: • Substantially lower

energy use by making home more energy efficient

• Make home more comfortable

• Conserve water and natural resources

Home Improvement: Home Upgrade

As part of the Home Upgrade program, hundreds of contractors have been specially trained in building science to help you decide the right changes to make to lower your energy use and make your home more comfortable.

These can include: Air sealing to reduce the amount of air flow

through the home

Duct sealing to help heating and cooling systems run more efficiently

Insulating the walls, attic, and crawl space

Installing an energy-efficient water heater or

energy efficient cooling system Installing insulated windows

Why get a Home Upgrade?

10

• The Home Upgrade program rewards consumers for taking a comprehensive, whole-home approach to energy efficiency. It allows homeowners to bundle several energy improvements for maximum savings. Example: Address heating, air-conditioning, and water heating all at the same time.

• The Home Upgrade program does not only improve the comfort of your home, it reduces energy bills, increases your home’s value, and qualifies homeowners for incentives and rebates of up to $6,500.

Home Improvement: Home Upgrade

Home Improvement: Home Upgrade

To learn more about the Energy Upgrade California Home Upgrade Program and find a participating contractor, visit EnergyUpgradeCA.org or follow Energy Upgrade California on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.

Home Improvement: Appliances

12

• Purchase ENERGY STAR® appliances. • Always check to see if there are rebates and recycling

programs before purchasing!

Home Improvement: Weather Prep • In California, 30 percent of energy use in the home is used for heating and

cooling. Adding insulation, blocking leaks, and replacing old equipment can cut your energy use significantly and help you save money on your utility bills in the cooler months.

• Before the weather gets too cold is the perfect time to prepare your home

for the cold weather. There are several actions you can do around your home to prepare for the cold temperatures that will help your home stay more comfortable and save you money on your energy bills.

• If you want to move beyond the simple actions to prepare your home for

the cold weather, get a home energy assessment. The assessment will identify the energy upgrades around your home that can help you save money on your energy bills while making your home more comfortable.

13

14

Home Improvement: Weather Prep Keep your energy bill low and stay comfortable this winter using these tips:

Check your Heating Equipment

Test for leaks and seal them

Insulate When the Weather Turns Cold

• Look at the filter on your furnace. If it’s dirty, clean or replace it as instructed by the manufacturer. During heavy use, change your filter every four to six weeks.

• If it’s been awhile since you’ve had a routine maintenance checkup for your furnace, schedule it before the weather gets cold and the waiting lists are long.

• If your heating equipment is old, upgrading to an ENERGY STAR® certified replacement could cut your heating costs by more than half.

• Set your thermostat to 68 degrees while at home and lower when away. Or install a programmable thermostat to increase your comfort year-round.

• Look around the house for places where cold air can enter — like around doors, windows, outlets, switch plates, and pipes or wires coming from the wall.

• Save up to $50 a year by using caulking and weather stripping to seal leaks around doors and windows.

• Properly sealed and insulated ducts can reduce your annual energy bills by up to $120 or more!

• If you have a fireplace, get in the habit of closing the flue when it’s not in use.

• Replacing single pane windows with new ENERGY STAR® models can lower your energy bill 7-15 percent.

• Check your insulation and replace it or add more if it’s below these “R” levels: Ceilings—R-30, walls—R-11, floors—R-19. (The “R” levels indicate how well it insulates. A higher “R” value means better insulation.)

• If you have an old water heater tank, wrap it with an insulating jacket, being careful not to cover the air intake valve, to save up to 10 percent on water heating costs.

• Cover bare floors. Rugs and carpeting help retain heat — and they’re more comfortable on bare feet. Open drapes during the day and let the sun naturally heat your home and close them at night to keep the cold out.

• Move furniture away from vents to ensure unobstructed heating.

• Close off unused rooms and their vents so you’re not heating unused spaces.

Home Improvement: Energy Savings Assistance Program (ESAP)

There is also an income-qualified program called the Energy Savings Assistance Program that helps renters and homeowners with no-cost energy efficiency solutions. Qualified homeowners may be eligible for appliance upgrades and installation for products such as energy-saving furnaces, energy efficient refrigerators, and air conditioning units. Information about these programs and many more can be

found at EnergyUpgradeCA.org or by contacting your local utility company.

15

Register, Make a Plan, and Start Saving…MyEnergyUpgrade