Fenix Marine Services, one of the largest container terminals in the Port of Los Angeles, was honored by the LADWP with an Energy Efficiency Leadership Award. (photo courtesy Fenix Marine Services)

Despite a challenging year, Los Angeles Department of Water and Power business customers still managed to lower their water and energy bills, improve their operations, decrease strain on our natural resources and contribute to environmental goals set by the city of Los Angeles.

LADWP recently celebrated its most sustainable, large customers at the sixth annual Sustainability Awards and discussion panel. The virtual awards presentation recognized businesses, nonprofit organizations and government agency customers who have achieved significant water and energy savings or installed electric vehicle chargers at their facilities as a result of participating in LADWP rebate programs. The most significant achievement in 2020 was continued electrification of transportation with over 800 chargers installed by LADWP customers at 46 locations.

“LADWP’s work of providing reliable water and electricity service would not be possible without the partnership and collaboration established with our commercial, industrial and institutional customers,” LADWP General Manager and Chief Engineer Martin L. Adams said. “We greatly value their business sense, savings achievements and forward-looking vision as we move together towards a greener, cleaner and better Los Angeles.”

The Sustainability Awards Program was instituted in 2016 as a way for LADWP to support and recognize customer efforts in sustainability. Winners are determined through a quantitative assessment of the environmental impact of the customer’s projects for which LADWP paid rebates.

Since 2013, commercial customers have represented 75% to 80% of the total energy savings achieved through LADWP’s Energy Efficiency Programs. This reliable savings within this customer sector has enabled LADWP to reinvest 60% of its $910 million energy efficiency budget, allowing for maximum savings and greater environmental benefits for all L.A. city residents.

In the Electrification of Transportation category, the winners are Renaissance Collection, Shelly Sterling and Noemi Dunkelman, which together installed a total of 832 chargers at 46 locations in 2020.

In the Demand Response category, the Leadership Award winners were Los Angeles Unified School District, Los Angeles World Airports and Lineage Logistics, which together curtailed 60,674 kW. The Impact Award winners were Airgas USA, with 82% curtailed compared to their baseload for 2020; Rancho Cold Storage, 75% curtailed; and LA Cold Storage, 74% curtailed.

In the Energy Efficiency category, the Leadership Award winners were Fenix Marine Services, Los Angeles Unified School District and Yusen Terminals, which together saved nearly 8 million kWh in 2020, enough to power 1,430 homes. The Impact Award winners were Electro Rent Corporation, with 35.5% saved; Commodity Forwarders, 27.4% saved; and the Dream Center, 23.3% saved.

In the Water Conservation category, the Leadership Award winners were the Westin Los Angeles Airport, Kaiser Foundation Hospitals/Health Plan and University of Southern California, which together saved 5.9 million gallons. The Impact Award winners were the Westin Los Angeles; Playa Summit Apartments, professionally managed by R.W. Selby & Co.; and Kaiser Foundation Hospitals/Health Plan, which together saved more than 6.2 million gallons.

For information, visit ladwp.com.