Congressman Jim Costa, Fresno County Supervisor Phil Larson, Mendota Mayor Robert Silva, and officials from Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), the Fresno County Economic Development Corporation (EDC), Richard Heath and Associates (RHA), and the Center for Irrigation Technology\u2019s Advanced Pumping Efficiency Program were on hand to kick off a weeklong campaign of energy efficiency upgrades to the western Fresno County rural communities of Mendota, Kerman, Firebaugh, San Joaquin, Coalinga and Huron last August. The campaign was dubbed \u2018Five Cities, Five Days.\u201d<\/p>\n
From city halls to clothing stores to restaurants to beauty salons, 16 buildings in western Fresno County\u2019s rural communities were the beneficiaries of a major energy-efficiency facelift thanks to a week-long campaign of upgrade efforts spearheaded by Fresno Energy Watch. Other businesses signed up during the week for later retrofits.<\/p>\n
The results to these communities are quite significant. The Fresno Energy Watch effort to overhaul antiquated, energy-draining lighting systems during its August campaign has the potential to save 277,305 kilowatt-hours of electricity per year, which equates to a savings of approximately $53,000 annually.<\/strong><\/p>\n One program participant, the City of Firebaugh, counts the savings as an incredibly important part of its operations.<\/p>\n \u201cFirebaugh is excited to be a part of Fresno Energy Watch. We are experiencing an unprecedented budget shortfall and every penny counts. We owe it to our citizens to use their money wisely,\u201d said Laura Weyant, former city manager of the City of Firebaughs. \u201cWe also want to be examples for the energy conservation movement.\u201d<\/p>\n Business owners followed suit. Lilia Castellanos, co-owner of Natural Nutricion in Firebaugh, jumped at the opportunity to enlist Fresno Energy Watch\u2019s help.<\/p>\n \u201cFresno Energy Watch offered us the opportunity of the lighting program and we are incredibly pleased because we are now going to save energy at this location.\u00a0 We are grateful for this program because we will be able to economize our energy bill,\u201d Castellanos said.<\/p>\n Fresno Energy Watch beneficiary Rosalio Carrillo, owner of Tacos y Tortas Chalio\u2019s in Coalinga, encouraged fellow business owners to take advantage of the efficiency upgrades available through Fresno Energy Watch. \u201cI invite other businesses to stop by and see the lights. They were previously very dim and there is a visible difference. Businesses should seize this available assistance. It will save them money.\u201d<\/p>\n Representatives of Fresno Energy Watch canvassed businesses in western Fresno County\u2019s rural communities in the weeks leading up to the campaign and continue to do so to help identify buildings where these important energy-efficiency improvements could be made.<\/p>\n