The City is taking action to be energy efficient in its own operations. Over the past four years, the City has completed dozens of energy efficiency projects, such as installing more efficient lighting and pool pump motor controls. Primarily funded through grants and rebates, these retrofits have resulted in:

• Energy savings of nearly 372,000 kWh per year
• Over $54,000 in avoided energy costs, and
• Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction of 121 tons per year

The Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) and the Institute for Local Government (ILG) highlighted El Cerrito’s innovative approach to leveraging a portion of its energy bill savings into future energy efficiency projects. View El Cerrito's case study posted on the ILG website.

Energy Efficiency Helps the City Hit Its 2020 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Target

In February 2011, the El Cerrito City Council adopted a GHG emissions reduction target of 15% below a 2005 baseline by 2020 and by 30% by 2035 in its own operations and in the community. By making the energy efficiency improvements discussed above, the City is avoiding the emissions of over 120 tons of GHG emissions. Barring any increases in emissions from other municipal operations, this reduction would represent 5% of the City’s municipal carbon footprint of 2,300 tons.