Berkeley Money for Energy Efficiency Program (ME2)
ME2 program for Energy Saving which is federally funded provides incentives, rebates and installation of energy efficiency upgrades like insulation and duct sealing. The aim of this program is to:
- Decrease the cost of energy improvements
- Help residents of Berkeley to save money on energy bills
- Reduce Carbon footprint of the area
- Improve comfort, safety and durability of buildings
Residents and business owners of the city will save USD 100 million in energy bills, help create green employment and reduce the GHG emissions of the city by 33% by 2020.
LED based lighting products
The LED based lighting solutions are energy efficient, small and robust. A 7.5W LED bulb gives light equivalent to a 40W incandescent bulb. LED lights give uniform gentle and natural light output. Life span of LED lighting systems is minimum 20 years. The LED lights come in a variety of forms such as ceiling, pendant, spot and wall lights.
Replacing Roofs – An Energy Saving Alternative
Replacing roofs can reduce energy consumption of buildings up to 90% and if government provides tax credits for replacing roofs, it would help create 40,000 jobs across the United States. The savings by replacing a roof in a business establishment is enormous; a Big Store in Miami Florida saved USD 648,000 in energy consumption by replacing their roof with a reflecting white roof.
Energy Saving Tips of the Week
In summers more than 50% of your electricity bill is related to cooling your home, and a
Tip to save about 12 to 19% energy is to keep your thermostat at 2 degrees higher. You may also use fan to keep your room chilled while the thermostat is at 2 degrees higher.
Direct heat from Sun is responsible for keeping your home warm, so keep your curtains, blinds and other draperies closed.
Do not open your refrigerator for too long as it would need to work harder to maintain it’s cooling thereby consuming more electricity.
Change ordinary bulbs to CFL or LED as they give more light, produce less heat and save 75 to 80% of the energy as compared to incandescent bulbs.
Another tip for energy savings is that the use of oven and stove top should be avoided during the day to cook food as the heat generated by using them will make the Air Conditioner to use more energy to maintain the cooling of your home.
