Retailers and Manufacturers Join Forces to Help Drive Efficiency in Electronic Products
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – As leaders in the field of energy efficiency, Pacific Gas and Electric Company
(PG&E) and the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) today announced a ground breaking
program to encourage businesses and consumers to save energy and lower their costs for electricity. For the
first time in the United States, utilities, retailers and manufacturers are joining together to help businesses
and consumers become more informed about the benefits of purchasing energy-efficient electronic products.
In addition to the two utilities, this Business and Consumer Electronics program includes Best Buy, Sears
Holding Company, Wal-Mart, Sam’s Club and Lenovo.
Administered in conjunction with the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) ENERGY STAR
program, the Business and Consumer Electronics program provides marketing support to encourage
manufacturers and retailers to educate, promote and sell the most energy-efficient televisions, desktop
computers and monitors. Consumers will see co-branded signs on the most energy-efficient and cost-saving
electronic products in participating retail stores.
“Californians are some of the most cutting edge technology consumers in the United States,” said
Brad Whitcomb, vice president of marketing and customer innovation for PG&E. “As a result, electronics
account for almost 20 percent of the total electric consumption by residential users. PG&E’s Business and
Consumer Electronics team saw an opportunity for dramatic energy savings and designed a program based on
proven industry experience and customer feedback,” Whitcomb added.
The program is expected to save PG&E and SMUD customers up to 380 million kilowatt-hours
(kWh) through 2011, enough to power more than 55,000 typical homes.
“The Business and Consumer Electronics program will not only encourage energy efficiency in a
new sector, it will provide retailers and manufacturers with the marking support they need to help accelerate
adoption of energy-efficient electronics,” said Paul Lau, deputy assistant general manager for SMUD.
“Through this program, SMUD and PG&E are setting the bar for energy efficiency in business and consumer
electronics in our communities and beyond.”
Katharine Kaplan, EPA team lead, ENERGY STAR Product Development added, “The Business and
Consumer Electronics program is a win for the environment, for businesses and for consumers. I’m delighted
that the products promoted through the Business and Consumer Electronics program meet and exceed the
stringent ENERGY STAR specification.”
Currently, ENERGY STAR-qualified televisions use up to 30 percent less energy than standard units.
If all televisions sold in the U.S. met ENERGY STAR requirements, consumers across the nation would save
an estimated one billion dollars in annual energy costs and would reduce greenhouse gas emissions by the
equivalent of taking about one million cars off the road.
“The Consumer Electronics program is a logical next-step strategy for managing ever-increasing
energy use,” said Stephanie Fleming, senior manager, Residential Sector, Northwest Energy Efficiency
Alliance. “Our unique ability to work consistently with regional utilities and retailers throughout the
Northwest will streamline the effort and accelerate market adoption of next-generation, energy-efficient
electronics,” she added.
PG&E is a national leader in energy efficiency programs. Since the inception of these programs in
1976, PG&E customers have achieved cost savings of more than $22 billion, avoiding the release of more
than 135 million tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere.
Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation (NYSE:PCG), is one of the
largest combined natural gas and electric utilities in the United States. Based in San Francisco, with 20,000
employees, the company delivers some of the nation’s cleanest energy to 15 million people in northern and
central California. For more information, visit www.pge.com/about/.
As the nation’s sixth largest publicly owned utility, SMUD has been providing electricity for more
than 60 years to Sacramento County (and a small portion of Placer County). SMUD is a recognized industry
leader and award winner for its innovative energy efficiency programs, renewable power technologies and for
its sustainable solutions for a healthier environment. For more information, visit www.smud.org.
Established in 1992, ENERGY STAR is a joint program between the United States Environmental
Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Energy designed to save money and help address climate change
through energy-efficient products and practices at home and at work. For more information, visit
www.energystar.gov or call 1-888-STAR-YES.