Energy Tip:
Check for holes or cracks around your walls, ceilings, windows, doors, light and plumbing fixtures, switches, and electrical outlets that can leak air into or out of your home.
Public Agency Utility Management System
RCEA's Utility Manager Pro database helps its member agencies to:
- have accurate and detailed utility use and cost information
- compare the relative efficiency of various sites
- find billing errors
- forecast and budget utility costs
- monitor the results of energy saving projects
RCEA began tracking muncipal utility data in 2003, and has complete records through 2008. Since we collect energy data for all municipalities in Humboldt County, we can report on energy consumption for specific member agencies and for the entire region. The ability to easily aggregate regional energy data is particularly useful for long-range plans and policy decisions.
Image: Sample UMS report of energy usage in Humboldt County
In March 2008 it was decided to obtain data directly from PG&E to reduce costs. Data is now complete through December 2009, and an automated quarterly data feed is being established to support more frequent reports.
A related effort is underway through the EPA's Portfolio Manager initiative. This tool provides similar energy tracking and forecasting for selected building types. Since it relies on computer simulation, it is limited by the number of available building models; more models will be added over time, so we expect that our UMS will continue to provide most complete data set available today. Visit our Benchmarking webpage for more details.
Useful Link: