SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- This spring, in celebration of Earth Day and Arbor Day, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) offers online tools, energy-efficiency products and a variety of programs to help customers become stewards of the environment. And throughout the month of April, PG&E takes part in open-to-the-public events around our service area where activities will range from tree plantings to downtown cleanups.

“Promoting a healthy environment is fundamental to PG&E’s mission, and we believe the best place to start is by working with our customers to help them find ways to use less energy, less water, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” said PG&E Chief Sustainability Officer Melissa Lavinson.

Available programs include:

Simple Savings Kit - With California still experiencing severe drought despite recent rains, PG&E offers residential gas and electric customers an easy and affordable way to save water and energy. The PG&E Simple Savings Kit includes efficiency-boosting products such as a high-efficiency shower head, two bath faucet aerators and two LED light bulbs, among other items, that are easily incorporated into customers’ homes to help instantly reduce energy and water waste. For only $10 (a $70 retail value), customers can save on bills and help to promote sustainability.

Home Energy Checkup - This online tool enables customers to quickly learn personalized ways to save based on how they use energy. After customers answer a few simple questions about their home and energy usage, the tool shows them how much of their household's energy goes to heating, hot water, appliances, lighting and other uses. Customers also receive a customized list of changes they can make to boost their home's energy efficiency, along with estimates of how much money they’ll save. Visit Money and Energy Saving Tips for additional no-cost, low-cost, and investment ideas for reducing energy usage and bills.

PG&E’s Solar Choice - This new program extends the option for 100 percent solar power to customers not planning to install solar panels. For a modest charge, customers can purchase half or all of their electric power from solar energy locally sourced in Northern and Central California – reducing their carbon footprint and driving the development of new solar resources within the state. Since Solar Choice launched in February, more than 1,000 residential and commercial customers have signed up. Visit www.pge.com/solarchoice for more details and to enroll. View the online tool to determine your monthly charge and the environmental impact associated with signing up for PG&E’s Solar Choice.

Step Up and Power Down - PG&E works with the cities of San Francisco, San Jose, Redwood City, San Carlos and Woodland to reduce energy waste at work and home. To join the movement and commit to making simple actions that add up to big impacts for more sustainable cities, visit https://stepupandpowerdown.com/

Community Events - PG&E is hosting and participating in a series of tree-plantings, beautification projects and park clean-ups in April and May. Customers are encouraged to visit their Local Division website for information on events taking place in their communities. Here are a few highlights:

• PG&E invites customers in Sacramento, Solano and Yolo Counties to attend the City of Woodland’s What on EARTH! Celebration from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 2, at Heritage Plaza, 707 Main St. The event features local organizations, businesses, and artisans who will be exhibiting products, demonstrations, crafts and services that promote healthy and sustainable choices. Local food vendors will be dishing up delicious food and local acts will be providing music. PG&E is sponsoring a ceremonial tree-planting to kick off the event.
• PG&E customers in Lodi are invited to attend an Arbor Day tree planting from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 9 at Lodi Lake Park (1101 West Turner Road) in celebration of the City of Lodi Parks Department 75^th Anniversary. PG&E is providing the city $5,000 to purchase 75 trees to be planted and will be participating in the planting event.
• PG&E is providing a $200,000 grant to the California State Parks Foundation for the supplies and materials to complete 10 Earth Day projects throughout Northern and Central California on Saturday, April 16. PG&E employees, customers and their families are encouraged to participate in park restoration and cleanup events, including planting native and drought tolerant vegetation, installing rain barrels, and removing trash and invasive plants to create a more welcoming and sustainable environment. Visit calparks.org for a complete list of projects and to sign up for a volunteer event near you.
• PG&E customers in Bakersfield are invited to participate in Keep Bakersfield Beautiful Committee’s 15^th Annual Great American Cleanup from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 23, at Yokuts Park on Empire Drive.
• PG&E invites San Jose customers to join us for an Arbor Day Weekend Tree Giveaway. PG&E is partnering with the Arbor Day Foundation Energy-Saving Trees program to provide 600 trees free to customers and help reduce energy use through strategic tree planting. The event takes place from 8:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. on both Friday, April 29, and Saturday, April 30 at Emma Prusch Farm Park. Customers will have the opportunity to log in to the online tool to reserve a tree, locate their house, and determine the best place to plant the tree on their property in order to save energy and money.

About PG&E

Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation (NYSE:PCG), is one of the largest combined natural gas and electric utilities in the United States. Based in San Francisco, with more than 20,000 employees, the company delivers some of the nation’s cleanest energy to nearly 16 million people in Northern and Central California. For more information, visit www.pge.com/ and www.pge.com/en/about/newsroom/index.page.

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Source: Pacific Gas and Electric Company