Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
Available On Air Stations
Watch Live

KPBS Midday Edition

Program Aims To Help Every Californian Reduce Energy Use By 10 Percent Per Year

Program Aims To Help Every Californian Reduce Energy Use By 10 Percent Per Year
Program Aims To Help Every Californian Reduce Energy Use By 10 Percent Per Year
GUEST:Siobahn Foley, with the California Center for Sustainable Energy, directs the Energy Upgrade California program

Californians are being asked to reduce their home energy use by 40 percent. The goal is in line with the state's aim of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020.

A new statewide program, Energy Upgrade California, focuses on educating residents and small business on what reducing energy use by 10 percent a year per person means in terms of actions.

Siobahn Foley, with the California Center for Sustainable Energy, directs the program.

Advertisement

The program takes a step back and connects the dots between known behaviors like turning off lights when you leave a room and switching to energy efficient LED lightbulbs to learning how to use smart meter data to track your energy use to figure out how to make cuts, Foley said.

"The data shows that by and large that people know what to do, and think they’ve done everything they can," Foley said. "In the daily practice, it’s not as common for people to do them."

To get tips on how to save energy and water, go to Energy Upgrade California's website.