Summer 2011

Vending Control Outreach Campagn a Success!

In April 2011, the San Mateo County (SMC) and Association of Monterey Bay Area Governments (AMBAG) Energy Watch partnerships with PG&E conducted a vending machine energy efficiency control outreach program for municipal and nonprofit customers to inform them of no cost energy efficiency upgrades for vending equipment. The result was 37 vending control units installed at AMBAG Energy Watch territory schools, municipal buildings, and nonprofits; and 51 vending machine controls installed throughout the SMC Energy Watch territory.

Ecology Action (EA), the contractor working with the AMBAG and SMC Energy Watch programs, coordinated with the PG&E Account Manager to create a strategic email outreach campaign focused at public works directors of municipalities within the two regions. EA’s ability to market the technology coupled with PG&E, AMBAG and SMC municipal connections made the outreach effort a huge success for the Local Government Partnership. 

Redwood City had vending machine control opportunities at over 10 locations and installed enough control devices to save more than 20,000 kWh and over $2,500 annually. One Redwood City facility expects to save almost $600 per year by installing the vending machine control devices.

While the savings are significant, the bigger benefit of the program has been the trust that has resulted from well-executed installations resulting in immediate savings. The utility customers that participated in the outreach program were grateful for the installation of the fully rebated energy efficiency devices, and many will likely request lighting and refrigeration audits as a result of their positive experience working with the Energy Watch staff.

Vending control installation requests continue to be submitted to all of EA’s Energy Watch programs and these requests for information will likely lead to positive relationships with municipal and nonprofit customers and even more energy savings in the future.