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                   NEWS RELEASE FROM THE

                CALIFORNIA ENERGY COMMISSION


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For immediate release:   March 22, 1995


                  $40,000-A-YEAR SAVINGS 
          EARN NAPA VALLEY COLLEGE AN ENERGY AWARD


After completing a major energy project that replaced 90 percent 
of the lights throughout its campus, Napa Valley College will be 
presented an Energy Conservation Award on Thursday, March 23.

The resolution will be presented at the monthly Board of Trustees 
meeting in Napa by the California Energy Commission and the 
Pacific Gas and Electric Company, the college's local utility.  
PG&E and the Energy Commission both funded programs which enabled 
the school to save $40,000 a year in energy costs without 
expending any of its capital budget.  

"Napa Valley College has shown a strong commitment to reduce 
energy use," acknowledged Commissioner Jananne Sharpless of the 
Energy Commission.  "Since 1993, the school has worked with the 
Commission to identify ways to cut energy waste and improve the 
learning environment for their students." 

Built in 1964, the college provided many opportunities to upgrade 
its lighting with new energy efficient technology.  "We cut back 
on our lighting in the 1980s in an attempt to save energy, and 
the brightness of our classrooms and offices suffered," said 
Daniel TerAvest, the school's Director of Facilities, Planning 
and Services.  "By installing the latest lighting technologies 
across our 180-acre campus, we improved light levels even as we 
cut our energy bills."  

Using a $49,000 grant from the Energy Commission's Community 
College Program, Napa Valley College first surveyed energy use 
in its 12 buildings.  It then turned to a PG&E sponsored program 
-- PowerSaving Partners -- to fund the needed improvements.

Through PowerSaving Partners, PG&E chooses a contractor -- in 
this case, Princeton Development Corporation of Sausalito and 
Sacramento -- to install the new lighting equipment.  Since the 
contractor arranges a low-interest lease to cover the cost of 
installing the equipment, the college does not have to put up 
money from its operating budget for the project. 

"Now that the work is completed, an independent auditor will 
install electronic monitors to measure the amount of energy 
saved,"explained Charles Maroon, PG&E's representative to the 
college.  "Through its contractor, PG&E will pay the college for 
the energy saved by the improvements. Even after the lease on the 
equipment is paid, the college will have a positive cash flow 
each year."

According to Maroon, PG&E is also providing Napa Valley College 
with over $150,000 in incentives and rebates through its Customer 
Energy Efficiency program.  

"For a community college like ours, these programs offer a real 
win-win situation," said  TerAvest. "Thanks to new technology, we 
were able to improve the quality of light in and around our 
buildings even as we slashed our operating costs.  We're proud to 
say we've made the campus much more comfortable for our 10,000 
students and we've achieved great energy savings in the process.  
We even save on maintenance.  Since the new bulbs last longer, we 
don't have to change them as often."

Thursday's Energy award will be jointly presented by Mike Magee, 
Project Manager for the Energy Commission, and Charles Maroon, 
PG&E's Account Representative.


                             # # #


For more information, contact:

Daniel TerAvest, 
Director of Facilities Planning and Services, Napa Valley College
(707) 253-3340

Rob Schlichting, California Energy Commission, (916) 654-5159


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FILE NAME: 95-03-22_Napa_College_Award