City of Manhattan Beach
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City Steps Toward Energy Efficiency
The City has taken steps towards reducing its impact on the climate by implementing various energy efficiency measures, such as replacing several existing traffic signals with LED lighting, replacing existing City vehicles with low-emission vehicles where feasible, adopting a Green Purchasing Plan, a Climate Action and Adaptation Plan, and conducted energy audits to identify how to make our buildings and facilities more energy efficient. These actions show the community that the City can be a leader in energy efficiency and emissions reductions.
Residential Solar Resources
As you can see through maps of solar permitting in the City of Manhattan Beach, "going solar" is a popular option for many residents and businesses. Installing solar panels is a great way to reduce an energy bill and carbon footprint, but before installing a large solar panel array, take some steps to make your property more energy efficient first. Several resources are available to assist in going solar.
Once ready to install solar, take advantage of financial incentives for installing eligible solar systems through SCE's partnership in the California Solar Initiative. In addition, federal tax credits may be available for solar energy systems. Refer to the Energy Star program for more information on federal tax credits.
You can begin your solar process by getting an estimate on your proposed project from solar installers operating in the area. Visit the Go Solar Database to find contact information for solar installers, contractors, and retailers that have registered with the California Solar Initiative program.
For more information and energy incentives check out the South Bay Council of Government's website.
Energy Efficiency for your Home
Looking for ways to cut back on your energy consumption? Saving energy will reduce your utility bills, and your carbon footprint! Several resources are available to help you meet your goals:
- The Energy Coalition educates and empowers communities to change the way they think about and use energy.
- The California Energy Commission is the State's primary energy policy and planning agency.
- Southern California Gas Company offers rebates, incentives, and training programs to help save energy and money.
- Southern California Edison offers residential and business Energy Guides with tips on conserving energy and reducing your bill.
Easy low-cost and no-cost ways to save energy:
- Install a programmable thermostat to lower utility bills and manage your heating and cooling systems efficiently.
- Air dry dishes instead of using your dishwasher's drying cycle.
- Turn things off when you are not in the room such as lights, TVs, entertainment systems, computers and monitors.
- Plug home electronics, such as TVs and streaming devices, into power strips; turn the power strips off when the equipment is not in use—TVs and streaming devices in standby mode still use several watts of power.
- Lower the thermostat on your water heater to 120°F.
- Take short showers instead of baths and use low-flow shower heads for additional energy savings.
- Wash only full loads of dishes and clothes.
- Air dry clothes. Air drying clothes will also allow them to last longer.
- Check to see that windows and doors are closed when heating or cooling your home.
- Look for the ENERGY STAR® label on light bulbs, home appliances, electronics, and other products. ENERGY STAR products meet strict efficiency guidelines set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy.
Solar Display at Metlox
The Solar Display at Metlox Plaza is designed as an educational solar powered display in a public area to increase awareness on the benefits of renewable energy.
The solar display project showcases an aesthetically pleasing solar array that can fit in with the architectural elements of the Metlox Plaza, while serving as a high-performing bifacial solar system. A bifacial solar system utilizes glass on both sides of the panel in order to collect energy from both sides of the solar panel, which increases efficiency of the panel. Though the benefit of bifacial panels will be minimal in this case, the bifacial panels offer an attractive architectural element, demonstrating potential design options that designers may incorporate in their own projects.
The solar display project is a small solar system that is not designed to take the Metlox area and surrounding businesses “off the grid.” However, the project will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 126 tons of CO2 over the 25-year life of the project. This is the equivalent to providing an offset of enough greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to driving a medium-sized car 228,545 miles. In addition, enough electricity will be generated to offset the escalator at Metlox Plaza.
Please direct questions to the City's Public Works Department at (310) 802-5313
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