Energy Efficiency  -  March 15, 2021

California housing facility to reduce energy use 15% with utility upgrades

An affordable housing community in Palm Desert, Calif., recently underwent nearly $1 million in energy efficiency upgrades that should reduce overall energy consumption by nearly 15%.

The One Quail Place Apartments received the energy upgrades from Southern California Gas Co., such as 11 high-efficiency boilers to supply hot water to all 384 apartment units. Other improvements included the replacement of 242 HVAC units, seven refrigerators, 475 exterior light bulbs and ten pool and spa lights to high-efficiency models.

The upgrades are expected to reduce the complex’s energy use by about 200,000 kWh annually. 

"The improvements we made in collaboration with SoCalGas will help this housing community and the residents save money by reducing energy usage without sacrificing comfort," Eugene Ayuyao, SCE's senior manager of customer programs – energy efficiency and conservation, said in a statement. "One Quail was our first project that's part of the CAM program and will serve as a model for our future projects in this program."

SoCalGas’ Energy Savings Assistance program’s Common Area Measures initiative ensured the common area upgrades were provided at no-cost to the low-income, deed-restricted properties. The program is ratepayer funded through SoCalGas at the direction of the California Public Utilities Commission.

Previous energy efficiency programs by SoCalGas have generated over $1 billion in energy cost savings and avoided 1.15 million metric tons of CO2.