Blog: August, 2010

August 26, 2010

Utility Sustainability Roundtable
Utilities energy efficiency

Utility programs are natural conduits for the delivery of comprehensive sustainability programs that include energy efficiency and renewable energy in combination with climate action, water efficiency, smart growth, waste reduction and recycling.  The California Sustainability Alliance conducted its first Utility Sustainability Roundtable in November 2007 in order to identify opportunities for utilities to leverage their energy efficiency programs through the broader umbrella of sustainability.  The Alliance was delighted to learn that some utilities were already looking beyond traditional programs for new ways to save energy, and that sustainability was one of the key strategies being explored.

At the Alliance’s second Utility Sustainability Roundtable, held in spring 2010, the issue was revisited within the context of current markets, policies, rules and regulations.  While roundtable participants generally agreed that climate action and other sustainability initiatives do provide additional channels for achieving more cost-effective clean energy, a wide variety of hurdles that substantially impede innovation were identified.

Notably, most utility energy programs in energy efficiency, demand response and renewable energy are purposely kept separate from one another, ostensibly to assure that ratepayer investments fund only those programs for which the funds were intended.  Unfortunately, creating walls around programs that are inherently complementary can thwart a utilities’ ability to access the multiple resources and value streams from cross-cutting programs that could otherwise benefit the very ratepayers.

One thing is clear:  in order to overcome these types of barriers, California needs representatives from all key stakeholder groups – policymakers, regulators, state and local agencies, utilities, and ratepayers – to come together to help identify these types of unintended consequences so that we can work together to overcome them. Download the 2010 Utility Sustainability Roundtable Report.

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August 23, 2010

New Green Building Barometer
Built Environment green building

The state’s commercial sector presently consumes a whopping 38% of the state’s total electricity and 25% of its natural gas resources—with 10% of the state’s total electricity requirements and 6% of its natural gas resources used by office buildings alone.

In its California Long Term Energy Efficiency Strategic Plan, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) identified a number of strategies for putting the commercial sector on a path to Zero Net Energy (ZNE) by 2030. ZNE buildings are energy self-sufficient on an annual basis by being energy efficient as possible, and by producing enough renewable energy on-site to meet all remaining energy needs. Strategies outlined by the CPUC include upgrading and enforcing building codes and improving the effectiveness of utility incentives and other programs.

California already has some of the most aggressive green building policies in the nation and is making substantial progress: as of April 2009, 35% of Class A commercial buildings were certified some level of “green” – whether LEED® or ENERGY STAR® – in CoStar Group's real estate market database. One year later, this number jumped to 43.3% – nearly 188 million square feet of the total 433 million square feet of rentable building area (RBA) in Class A commercial buildings in California are now certified “green”. Progress was substantial in Class B and C properties as well; but clearly, there is much more to be done in those sectors, as less than 5% of the state’s 916 million square feet of RBA in Class B and C properties was certified green as of April 2010.

Anecdotally, some energy industry practitioners reported that Assembly Bill 1103, which requires disclosure of a building’s energy performance upon certain triggering events, precipitated some of this increase in activity. While CoStar’s database cannot tell us what motivated building owners to certify their properties green over the past year, we can take a pulse on the state’s progress towards greening its commercial office buildings through the California Sustainability Alliance’s Green Building Barometer.

Check back here for periodic updates on the Green Building Barometer, along with information about which markets are making the most progress and the types of policies and programs that appear to be driving the various regions in the state. Timely marketing insights will be provided by members of the Alliance’s Advisory Committees and other key real estate market participants.

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August 20, 2010

New Videos in the Library
Alliance News resources Joanna Gubman

The library includes more than a dozen videos offering insights from our advisors and community leaders on key sustainability issues. Two of the newest videos in our library are part of a series of interviews with Alliance Advisors and team members who were in attendance at this year's annual Sustainability Showcase Awards Luncheon.

Water-Energy Nexus
When it comes to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, most people immediately think of saving energy in the electricity and transportation sectors. Often overlooked is the significant amount of energy used to deliver and treat water.

Increasing the use of local water sources, including recycled water, can significantly reduce both the energy use and the greenhouse gas emissions associated with water consumption. In fact, a recent study by the Alliance estimates that accelerated development of available recyclable water could meet up to 16% of California’s energy efficiency goals.

In an interview with the Alliance, Cynthia Truelove, Senior Water Policy Analyst for the California Public Utilities Commission, discusses six measures identified through her work with the Governor’s Climate Action Team that would achieve greenhouse gas reductions in addition to those covered under California’s Global Warming Solutions Act (AB 32). These voluntary measures include: water recycling, renewable energy generation in the water cycle, water use efficiency, water systems efficiency, public goods financing, and storm water management.

To learn more, read the Alliance's recycled water study, or take a look at our other videos!

First Cost Barriers
California’s aggressive energy and climate change goals may be all for naught if we can’t afford to meet them. Fortunately, most sustainability measures – including smart growth, energy efficiency, conservation, and green building – will save money in the long run. Overcoming the initial cost of these programs is key to achieving the long-term monetary (and environmental) savings they will provide.

In an interview with the Alliance, Frank Spasaro, Manager of Energy Efficiency Partnerships for Sempra Energy Utilities, discusses state and national financing programs designed to help local governments and private organizations overcome the first cost barriers to sustainability initiatives.

Visit our video page to watch this interview and others from the Alliance!

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August 9, 2010

New Alliance Library Launched
Alliance News resources Joanna Gubman

Filed under: alliance news — Changing business as usual can be hard, but finding information on how to do it shouldn’t be.  That’s why we recently updated our library with over two-dozen California Sustainability Alliance publications and videos on best practices and programs in California.  The library also contains a number of helpful external resources to help you ensure your community is a sustainable one.

Our publications page features guides on green property management, results from our survey of local government sustainability practices, a study on the importance of recycled water to energy and water savings, and more.  These resources provide practical information to help local governments and private organizations tackle pressing issues related to energy, water, and climate change.

In addition, our video gallery contains clips featuring insights from Alliance Advisory Committee members on topics such as green building, the water energy nexus, and overcoming the first cost barriers to implementing sustainability programs. Also featured are guest speakers and award recipients from the 2008 and 2009 Sustainability Showcase Awards giving their perspectives on critical sustainability issues.

Finally, browse and search through hundreds of resources on sustainability through our external resources page.

We hope this library will help local governments, private organizations, and other key stakeholders access the information they need to advance sustainability goals within their communities. Let us know which resources you find most helpful!

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