PLEASANTON — One of Time magazine's millennium Heroes of the Planet wants to increase profits for Bay Area businesses and in the process save the world.

Dr. L. Hunter Lovins said businesses in the U.S. can save billions of dollars by simply turning off the lights. For the past 30 years, Lovins has crisscrossed the globe helping organizations save money and preserve their top capital asset, Earth.

"We haven't focused on (sustainability) and we have allowed ourselves to believe that climate protection will bankrupt the economy," he said. "But if we do not protect he economy, it will be the direct opposite."

Tuesday, Lovins' message will come to Pleasanton. The city's newly formed Energy and the Environment committee will host Lovins' "Energy Efficiency and Long-Term Sustainability" lecture. Lovins and Elliott Hoffman, co-founder of Natural Capitalism Inc., will speak at 7 p.m. at the Pleasanton Senior Center, 5353 Sunol Blvd.

Lovins, of Colorado, a former corporate lawyer, is one of the world's most well-known sources on sustainable development. She has written a number of books and lectured worldwide. In addition, Natural Capitalism Solution — the nonprofit branch of Natural Capitalism Inc. — helps educate decision-makers in business, government and society about the principles of sustainability.

Lovins said the United States has lagged behind Europe and China when it comes to developing and harnessing

sustainable resources. She cited Europe's movement toward electric cars and solar power and China's efforts on high-speed rail and harnessing solar energy.

"(Natural Capitalism) is an approach to doing business that is more profitable than what they are doing now," said Lovins, who also teaches at Presidio Graduate School in San Francisco. "Every business that I walk into, I can within five minutes see ways to save money."

Lovins said she helped one small company cut its electric bill for its high-end plasma screen monitors from $220 a month to $90 by simply hooking them up to a power strip.

Several Bay Area cities are heeding Lovins' advice, including Pleasanton.

Daniel Smith, the city's operations services director, met Lovins seven months ago after participating in several sustainability learning circles with other Bay Area businesses and cities. Smith said Pleasanton has found ways to decrease costs through more efficient lighting at its facilities.

"It is a really dynamic thing to help all municipalities and businesses become more efficient," Smith said.

Although Lovins is normally a well-paid lecturer, she choose to speak in Pleasanton for free in part because of the city's efforts to become a sustainable city.

"The real point for cities like Pleasanton and other businesses is gaining economic prosperity," Lovins said. "If California implemented (Assembly Bill) 32 fully, it would add $76 billion to the economy by 2025 and create over 400,000 jobs."

AB32, the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, is an environmental bill that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed into law in September 2006.

Robert Jordan covers Dublin and Pleasanton. Contact him at 925-847-2184.