More than 50 school district representatives from Northern and Central California will attend a free facility manager workshop sponsored by Pacific Gas and Electric Company, the U.S. Department of Energy's Rebuild America program and Philips Lighting to help schools reduce energy costs. The workshop is scheduled for May 15, from 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Richmond Civic Center, in Richmond, CA.

"We think it's very important that schools be as energy efficient as possible, and facility managers are the people who can really help schools cut back on energy costs with the installation of energy-saving equipment and by operating the equipment efficiently," said Beverly Alexander, the utility's vice president for Energy Management programs. "Pacific Gas and Electric Company is reaching out to every school district in our service area to make sure their facility managers are aware of new technology, and the resources our company offers schools to implement energy efficiency projects."

The workshop will bring together industry partners to showcase new energy-efficiency products and discuss energy-saving practices for existing equipment that will help improve schools' learning and teaching environments, while reducing energy usage and cost.

Participating schools will learn about lamps, ballasts, and switches (from Philips, Advance Transformer, and Cutler-Hammer); lighting control systems (Precision Lighting, The Watt Stopper and Novitas); HVAC equipment and controls (Trane); daylighting (MyLite); commercial windows (TRACO); reflective roofs (Sarnafil, Inc.); project financing and implementation (Sempra Energy Services); and waterless urinals (Waterless).

Tuesday's workshop is just one of the programs Pacific Gas and Electric Company offers to help customers save money and energy. Services such as incentives to off-set the cost of energy efficient products, design assistance for new construction, and information about energy efficient practices benefit our commercial and residential customers.