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NEWS
April 19, 2012

Alameda Municipal Power Announces 2012 Green Powerstar Winners

Alameda Municipal Power (AMP) announced today the winners of its 2012 Green Powerstar Awards, which honor local businesses, residents, and youth who support energy efficiency, energy savings and greener power use.

In the Large Commercial Category the winner is Coral Reef Inn & Suites for its comprehensive approach to energy efficiency and resource savings.  Each of the hotel’s 95 rooms and main areas received a green makeover with new CFL lighting and high efficiency heat pumps.  With these changes, Coral Reef Inn & Suites has reduced their total energy consumption by 31% and realized an annual cost savings of nearly $16,000.  That’s in addition to the $8,000 energy efficiency rebate they received from AMP.

The Marketplace, located on Park Street, is this year’s Small Commercial Category winner.  The building was retrofitted throughout with high efficiency lighting, and skylight covers were installed to reduce heat gains along with a fan mist system to reduce cooling load.  Additionally, new LED lights and door gaskets were installed in the freezers, refrigerators and ice cream units, and old inefficient evaporator motors were replaced with high-efficiency evaporator motors.   As a result of these changes, The Marketplace received a $14,000 energy efficiency rebate from AMP and is saving nearly $18,000 annually on their power costs.

The residential award goes to the Wu Family for their “whole house” approach to increasing their home’s overall energy efficiency.  Not only did the Wu’s install 13 solar panels on the roof, totaling 2.7 kilowatts, but they also installed a high-tech, energy-efficient heating and air system, a tankless water heater and an Energy Star clothes washer.  They are also ensuring that the kilowatt hours they generate are used in the most efficient way possible through the installation of compact fluorescent lamps throughout their home and smart power strips for all electronic equipment.  In addition to lowering their electric bill, the Wu’s also received a $5,000 solar rebate from AMP.

Evan Lee, a student at Alameda High School, will receive the Youth Award for a solar installation project at his school.  Evan installed 13 solar-powered lights in four locations on the campus.  In planning for the project, Evan took into account not just energy efficiency but also campus safety and cost savings for the schools.  The light modules are self-sustaining and self-contained, requiring no energy from an outside source.  The lights last anywhere from 5-10 years, assist in more efficient energy use at the school and increase safety and security.  This project also helped Evan fulfill his Eagle Scout community service requirements.

“Alameda’s Green Powerstars are taking the lead in proving energy-saving technologies and strategies,” said Peter Holmes, Public Utilities Board vice president.  “It is my hope that these awards will encourage others in our community to engage in environmentally sustainable practices.”

 Awards will be presented to the winners at the City’s Earth Day Festival on Saturday, April 21 in Washington Park.  The presentation will be held on the main stage from noon – 12:30 p.m.  The winners and their accomplishments will also be profiled in video postings on the AMP website.