Flex Your Power Case Study: City of La Mesa

In response to Gov. Gray Davis' mandate, the City of La Mesa formed an Energy Conservation Committee to develop energy-saving measures and projects. La Mesa
became the first city to change traffic lights to green light emitting diodes (LEDs). Traffic signals accounted for roughly 30 percent of La Mesa's total electricity consumption, and the city expected an estimated 50 percent cost savings. Other projects developed by the La Mesa Energy Conservation Program included mandating higher temperatures in city facilities, creating a "dark hour" in city buildings from 12 p.m. to 1p.m. and forming a partnership with San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) to provide educational and informational materials to city residents.

The goal of this project was to reduce energy consumption in La Mesa, California.

The city involved employees from all the departments and made them responsible for implementing energy-saving measures. La Mesa estimated 50 percent cost savings from red and green LEDs and calculated savings from lights retrofit at 36,000 kWh.