Area technology companies such as Intel Corp., Hewlett-Packard Co. and NEC Electronics Corp. Intel started conserving in all its California offices in December. Then it cut lighting by half from 4 to 7 p.m. on weekdays, and then every day. The company cut its December energy consumption by 10 percent to 15 percent. Heating and cooling systems have been programmed for optimum efficiency.
Employees can suggest savings over a Web site.
During stage 2 and stage 3 power alerts, Hewlett-Packard cuts power use by 5 percent to 20 percent, depending on the facility. NEC Electronics, with memory chip plants in Roseville and Santa Clara, has shut off fans on some manufacturing equipment, and cut energy use in heating and air conditioning with timers and equipment retrofits. For hotels, the most effective tactic so far has been asking guests to help conserve, said Ken Kuchman, hotel analyst with PKF Consulting in San Francisco. Hotels can't cut the power to hallway lights and common area, so that leaves the rooms. Unoccupied rooms are powered down, and guests in occupied rooms are asked to conserve.