Recently 10 South Bay public agencies received a total of $1,109,500 from an incentive program to replace gas-powered water heaters with heat pump technology. Heat pump water heaters are fully electric and are 300% more energy efficient than gas-fired water heaters. Heat-pump technology uses hot exhaust air from other heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems to heat water.

The upgrades will result in annual gas savings equivalent to a year’s gas use by 350 homes. It will also prevent the release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere equivalent to the emissions from driving a gas-powered vehicle 2.5 million miles every year. The energy cost savings for all agencies will be $48,000 annually.

The funding for the replacements was provided through the Southern California Regional Energy Network’s (SoCalREN’s) Heat Pump Water Heater (HPWH) program. Through its partnership with the South Bay Cities Council of Governments (SBCCOG), the SoCalREN worked to bring the HPWH program to South Bay municipal buildings and school districts. The SoCalREN and the SBCCOG collaborate to bring money- and energy-saving projects to the South Bay.

“We are extremely grateful to have reliable hot water at our district cafeterias, with the added benefit of savings on our electricity bill for years to come,” said Genia Baker, director of facilities, Lennox Elementary School District.

Between 2023 and 2024, the cities of Carson, El Segundo, Hawthorne, Inglewood and Torrance, and the Centinela Valley Union High School District, El Segundo Unified School District, Hawthorne School District, Lennox Elementary School District and Beach Cities Health District replaced 52 gas-powered water heaters. The program covered 100% of the cost of equipment and labor for all units.

During that period, the SBCCOG worked to enroll seven new South Bay school districts in the SoCalREN, bringing the total to 10. Enrollment enables them to utlize this and other energy-saving programs.

The SBCCOG and the SoCalREN plan to bring additional energy-saving programs to the South Bay at no cost to public agencies as they continue to work together toward a cleaner, greener future. •