LOS ANGELES, Feb. 24, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recognized Southern California Gas Co. (The Gas Company) with the Excellence in Energy Efficiency and Environmental Education 2005 Award for its outstanding contributions to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by promoting the construction of energy-efficient homes. The Gas Company's accomplishments will be recognized at an awards ceremony in Washington March 15, 2005.
The Gas Company, an ENERGY STAR(r) partner, is being honored for promoting the construction of new homes that meet EPA's strict guidelines for energy efficiency. Energy Star-qualified new homes use substantially less energy for heating, cooling, and water heating -- homeowners can expect to save about $200 to $400 annually on their utility bills.
The program, run by SDG&E, The Gas Company, Pacific Gas and Electric, and Southern California Edison, provides builders with information on the benefits of energy-efficient homes plus financial incentives for offering customers Energy Star homes.
"The Gas Company takes pride in our accomplishments together with Energy Star," said Michelle Mueller, vice president of customer service for The Gas Company. "We encourage the construction of new homes that are good for homeowners and beneficial to the environment."
The Excellence in Energy Efficiency and Environmental Education Award is given to a variety of organizations to recognize their efforts to improve energy efficiency and reduce pollution, resulting in significant cost savings to homeowners. Award winners are selected from over 3,000 organizations that participate in the Energy Star program.
The Gas Company's contributions to the construction of energy-efficient homes help provide homeowners with quieter, more comfortable, and healthier homes, with significant utility savings.
Last year alone, Americans, with the help of Energy Star, saved about $10 billion on their energy bills while reducing the greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those of 20 million cars.
"Every qualified Energy Star home keeps 4,500 pounds of greenhouse gases out of our air each year," said Kathleen Hogan, director of EPA's Climate Protection Partnerships Division. "Energy Star partners such as The Gas Company are doing an outstanding job of promoting new homes that perform better for homeowners and for the environment. We applaud their efforts to help create a new generation of homes that offer the very best in terms of efficiency, comfort, and durability."
The Gas Company is the nation's largest natural gas distribution utility, providing safe and reliable energy to 19.5 million consumers through 5.5 million meters. The company's service territory encompasses approximately 20,000 square miles in most of central and Southern California. The Gas Company strives to provide exceptional customer service to enhance the quality of life in the community. The Gas Company is a regulated subsidiary of Sempra Energy (NYSE:SRE). Sempra Energy, based in San Diego, is a Fortune 500 energy services holding company.