UC San Diego Named Grand Champion at 8th Annual SDG&E Energy Showcase

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The University of California, San Diego was named Grand Champion during the recent San Diego Gas and Electric (SDG&E) 8th Annual Energy Showcase. Recognized for the campus’ efforts to conserve energy and reduce its environmental impact, UC San Diego garnered the top award among 11 local businesses honored as Energy Champions at the showcase.

Photo by Erik Jepsen/UC San Diego Publications

“We are proud to receive this recognition for our commitment to finding sustainable solutions,” said Gary C. Matthews, UC San Diego’s vice chancellor for Resource Management and Planning. “Environmental sustainability is part of our institutional DNA and a top priority in our education, research and campus operations.”

UC San Diego was named the Grand Champion for implementing energy-efficiency measures to optimize performance across the campus through active participation in SDG&E’s University of California/California State University/Investor Owned Utility Energy Efficiency Partnership program.

 Optimizing facilities is a high priority at UC San Diego, with all new construction targeting LEED Silver certification or higher and 12 buildings that have already qualified. Renewable energy sources also play an important role in the campus infrastructure, and the university has a long history of participating in SDG&E demand response programs.

Through all of its 2012 efforts, UC San Diego achieved annual savings of 9.35 million kWh and 1.86 million therms, earning approximately $4 million in SDG&E incentives. In addition, the university offers more than 21 electric vehicle charging stations to their students and faculty to promote the reduced carbon footprint the cars provide.

“We’re proud of the remarkable energy savings by our customers who have been recognized as Energy Champions this year,” said Caroline Winn, vice president of customer services for SDG&E. “Each winner has set an excellent example that all SDG&E business customers can learn from to find new ways to save energy and money through the many rebates and incentives that are available through SDG&E’s energy-efficiency and demand response programs.”

According to SDG&E, the 11 businesses recognized collectively saved more than 34 million kWh of electricity and more than two million therms of natural gas, the equivalent of taking nearly 8,000 cars off the road.