California is a national leader on energy efficiency, and with the right mix of technology, education and policy, the best is yet to come.
That was the conclusion of energy-efficiency leaders from across the state who gathered in Mountain View in June to explore the next generation of energy efficiency. Representatives from Chevron, PG&E, Google, Whirlpool, Southern California Edison, the California Public Utilities Commission and the Natural Resources Defense Council participated in the half-day forum before an audience of more than 400 people.
"In the transition to a low-carbon economy, the widest and clearest pathway is energy efficiency," said Russ Yarrow, general manager of corporate affairs at Chevron. "What we do here today should help enable the next generation of energy efficiency."
The event, the third in the Roots of Energy Efficiency series produced by UC Davis and Chevron, featured a series of panel discussions on three pathways for increasing energy efficiency in California:
- the availability and use of smart energy technology (smart meters, appliances and commercial installations);
- the need for wide-reaching consumer education and behavioral change; and,
- how the policy can help stimulate technological innovation and consumer choices.
The conclusions? Energy efficiency is a vital first step toward meeting future energy needs, and innovations in smart energy technology will accelerate a more energy-efficient California.
“Smart energy technology will play a critical role in the adoption of energy efficiency on a mass scale. The insights from this event will shape our research trajectory and our work will help California continue to play a key role in the energy efficiency discussion.”
— Nicole Biggart, Chevron Chair in Energy Efficiency, University of California, Davis
Chevron is a lead sponsor of the UC Davis Energy Efficiency Center, and last year it extended its commitment with a $2 million endowment for the Chevron Chair in Energy Efficiency at the university. The mission of the Energy Efficiency Center is to accelerate the development and commercialization of energy-efficient technologies and to train future leaders in the field.
For its part, Chevron has reduced its own energy use by more than 30 percent since 1992. Chevron Energy Solutions is also helping institutions and businesses, such as the Los Angeles Metro System, to use energy more efficiently and generate power from renewable sources such as solar and biomass.