Sustainability at SoCalGas®

Protecting the environment is a part of our culture. See how we work to protect our precious environmental resources.

In 2010, we created the Green Team, a volunteer group of employees from diverse departments, to advocate for actions that reduce our impact on the environment.

The Green Team’s mission is to advance the company’s green culture and environmental sustainability through communicating, educating and inspiring conservation, energy efficiency, recycling and waste reduction at the workplace and at home.

Reducing, Reusing and Recycling

Last year, SoCalGas recycled nearly 4,500 tons of scrap metal, meters, cardboard, plastic and paper. We reduced our use of metal by rebuilding thousands of natural gas meters and redeploying them back into service.

"Last year, SoCalGas recycled nearly 4,500 tons of scrap metal, meters, cardboard, plastic and paper."

We saved thousands of trees by using recycled paper to print our customers' billing statements, envelopes and brochures.

Whenever possible, SoCalGas redeploys laptops and desktop computers within the company. Computers that are not redeployed are sold to electronic recyclers, preventing them from going to landfills.

We’ve greatly reduced our inventory of printers, copiers and fax machines.

Our Energy-Efficient Facilities

We take steps daily to protect the environment in our facilities and operations, and in how we plan and construct new facilities.

We pursue Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) certification for all remodels and new construction greater than 10,000 square feet. We have earned LEED certifications for nine of our facilities.

Developed by the U.S. Green Building Council® in 2000, LEED is the most recognizable and widely used green building program across the globe. LEED is a certification program that guides the design, construction, operations and maintenance for buildings, homes and communities.

Energy Resource Center

The SoCalGas Energy Resource Center (ERC) is an energy-efficiency partner for energy and environmental decision makers. The building is an award-winning model of energy-efficient, environmentally friendly technologies.

The ERC provides an array of services, including:

  • Practical seminars and training
  • Demonstrations of energy-efficient products
  • Consulting services that can help businesses find the most cost-effective and energy-efficient solutions to their energy needs.

As an advocate of energy conservation, SoCalGas is installing large photovoltaic (PV) systems throughout the region. The first installation required “paving” the roof of one of our largest sites, the Redlands Headquarters, with almost 1,000 American-made solar panels. The two-year old solar PV system supplies nearly 30 percent of the energy used at this site.

With the addition of PV systems in San Dimas and Palm Desert, they generate a combined million kWh per year. By the end of 2015, a PV solar project in Anaheim will be completed, providing even more energy savings.

Reducing Our Electricity Use

At SoCalGas, we voluntarily set a goal to reduce our electricity usage. As of December 2014, electric use has been reduced by 9.5 percent compared to 2003.

"We voluntarily set a goal to reduce electricity usage."

As a continuing effort, our energy conservation program:

  • Reduces greenhouse gas emissions
  • Advances new technologies in energy-efficiency and emerging, renewable energy
  • Lowers estimated electricity consumption at company facilities through comprehensive energy-efficiency retrofits and by incorporating energy-efficient measures into new construction