San Diego Gas & Electric announced it has given UC San Diego $7.2 million that represents energy efficiency incentives that it earned by implementing 30 energy efficiency projects between 2010 and 2012.

UCSD’s efforts in 2010 resulted in a $330,000 award, $2.5 million in 2011 and $4.4 million in 2012. SDG&E said that as a result, UCSD has saved more than 21 million kilowatt hours — the equivalent of removing about 5,000 cars off the road, powering 4,000 homes for a year and preventing the emission of more than 25,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

“At UC San Diego, we are dedicated to finding sustainable solutions and it is an honor to have these efforts commended,” Gary C. Matthews, UC San Diego’s vice chancellor for resource management and planning, said in a statement. 

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