OREANDA-NEWS. Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) and the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) on Wednesday will jointly unveil a host of energy and water efficiency upgrades at Park La Brea, the second largest multi-family complex in the United States and SoCalGas’ most substantial residential natural gas savings project to date. Park La Brea is on track to potentially reduce greenhouse gas emissions by about 17 percent per year as a result of the collaborative effort between SoCalGas and LADWP to significantly reduce energy use at the large residential complex.

The upgrades will be unveiled and a rebate incentive check representing projected savings will be given to the complex owners, Prime Group, at 11:30 a.m. on Wed., Oct. 12, at the Park La Brea Activities Center, located at 475 S. Curson Ave. West, in Los Angeles.

Park La Brea is SoCalGas’ largest master-metered residential customer, with 4,248 multi-family rental units in 18 high-rise towers. The complex also includes 26 blocks of garden-style apartments, along with common-area garages, swimming pools, offices and a maintenance yard. Park La Brea is projected to save on its natural gas use by 15 percent per year – a bottom-line savings of more than 275,000 therms annually. (A therm is the energy equivalent of burning 1,000 cubic feet of natural gas). In addition, the complex is also expected to reduce water consumption by more than 10 percent per year.

“The Park La Brea upgrades underscore the fact that a joint-utility approach creates deeper energy savings and environmental benefits for multi-family building owners,” said Lisa Alexander, vice president of customer solutions for SoCalGas. “SoCalGas is pleased to partner with LADWP to help all involved meet the state’s environmental goals.”

The projected reductions in greenhouse gas emissions resulting from the upgrades can contribute to improving the air quality in and around the community.       

“Our collaboration with SoCalGas and the Park La Brea team has been terrific, and together we have delivered one of the largest multi-family retrofit projects in California,” said David Jacot, director of efficiency solutions at the LADWP. “This is truly a project we can all be very proud of; it demonstrates what can be achieved when utilities come together to focus on service to their customers by providing them with options in energy efficiency and water conservation.”

The two utilities joined efforts to provide seamless services to Park La Brea, while also encouraging and assisting residents to more fully participate in each utility’s customer-assistance programs.

“SoCalGas’ site-wide energy audit helped us realize the full potential of various energy conservation measures associated with natural gas, electric and water savings. As a result of the retrofits, our site-wide systems reliability and overall efficiencies should improve significantly,” said Bruce Manning, Able Services director of maintenance at Park La Brea.