The City of Pomona has completed energy efficiency upgrades at the Pomona Public Library, a project expected to reduce municipal utility costs by an estimated $22,181 annually, or about $1,848 per month.
The project supports the goals of Pomona Choice Energy, the city’s energy provider. It follows a long-term partnership with the Southern California Regional Energy Network (SoCalREN), which began in 2013 when Pomona enrolled to access engineering services to guide energy projects from conception to completion. SoCalREN engineers completed a facility audit in 2019, recommending the specific measures that were implemented in 2025.
Funding for the improvements came entirely from external sources, including a $6 million grant from the California State Library and $32,105 in incentives from SoCalREN’s Streamlined Savings Program. This allowed the city to complete the facility upgrades without impacting its local municipal budget. The energy-specific upgrades added $306,088 to the standard baseline building costs. This extra investment will take about 12.4 years to pay for itself.
The upgrades are estimated to save 127,924 kilowatt-hours of electricity and 1,751 therms of natural gas per year. Technical improvements included the installation of a reflective cool roof, interior LED lighting retrofits and high-efficiency replacements for the building’s legacy chiller and air handling units.
“By using state grant funding to upgrade our civic infrastructure, we are lowering the long-term cost of running our public facilities,” said Julie Carver, environmental programs manager for the City of Pomona and a CalChoice board alternate. “This project demonstrates how sustainability investments can protect both our environment and our local economy.”
Pomona residents are encouraged to visit the Pomona Public Library to experience the newly upgraded facility firsthand. To learn more about the city’s ongoing sustainability initiatives and energy-saving programs, please visit our website at PomonaChoiceEnergy.org.