California Sustainability Alliance

The Green Lease Library

California Sustainability Alliance — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:51:49 +0000

Check out the Alliance Green Leases Toolkit, featured under the Toolkits tab!

The California Sustainability Alliance Green Leases Toolkit is featured in the Green Lease Library, recently released by the Department of Energy. The library is a great tool that will help implement “green leases” – commercial rental agreements that support and encourage energy efficiency.

The agreement for commercial leases specifies how the energy costs will be divided between tenants and owners: either the building owner is be responsible for covering the cost of utilities, allowing the tenant to “waste” energy without any type of penalty, or the tenant is responsible for the utility bills, giving the building owner little incentive to make any energy efficiency improvements to the property.

Green leases include modified lease clauses , where both the owner and the tenant have an incentive to take steps towards a more green way of living and doing business, which in turn will save money and conserve resources.

The Green Lease Library is meant to become a “one-stop-shop” for all a wide range of users: building owners, existing and future tenants, and lawyers. It is user friendly and is organized in three main components:

Guidance – How to develop, negotiate and implement green leases
Best Practices – Successful green lease studies
Toolkits – Sample Green lease language and templates

Each category houses documents and resources that provide a wealth of information on green leases. The resources are organized by Audience & Building Type, Description, Author and Subscription Type: whether the subscription is free or there is a cost associated with it. Most of the subscriptions are free and can be accessed instantly.

The Green Lease Library is the result of collaboration between the following organizations that are part of the green lease community:

General Services Administration
U.S. Department of Energy Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Building Technologies Program
Commercial Real Estate Energy Alliance
Building Owners and Managers Association
Rocky Mountain Institute
NYU Shack Institute of Real Estate, Center for the Sustainable Built Environment
Institute for Market Transformation
Natural Resources Defense Council

http://www.greenleaselibrary.com/

Shutting the Door on Inefficient Retail Practices

California Sustainability Alliance — Thu, 03 May 2012 18:11:56 +0000

Keeping doors closed when air-conditioning is running can help California meet its energy efficiency goals.

Walking in any of California’s major retail zones (or in most of the U.S. for that matter), it is common to see inviting store fronts with highly planned out – even artful – window displays. There is little mystery or confusion about why retailers do this. They are designed to pique our interest, draw us inside and result in our making a purchase.

But, there is another part to the façade of any establishment that goes less-noticed, which is worth a look: The door. Barring severe weather, many retailers choose to keep their doors open during business hours—helping to make their stores even more accessible and inviting. This practice, however, has costs, both for the retailer and its customers. The costs are in the energy that is required to keep the store temperature at comfortable levels for both employees and shoppers.

In 2008, the shopping mecca of New York City passed a law requiring that retailers meeting specific criteria must keep their doors shut while the air-conditioning is running. ConEdison of New York helped to inform retailers of their role in energy efficiency by publishing The Price of Open Doors, a widely distributed informational flyer providing information on kWh and dollar savings, and the impact of lost energy in the region.

With all of this information, one could wonder why retailers simply don’t just close their doors and save energy? It boils down to today’s highly competitive retail environment; retailers have [legitimate] concerns that keeping the door closed will negatively impact sales. Doors create, quite literally, a physical barrier between potential customers and merchandise. And, to be successful, retailers must minimize barriers that keep “window shoppers” from turning into product purchasers.

So, how can retailers reconcile aspirations to be environmentally responsible and drive sales? Two key starting point are:

Introduce a code– When local and/or state governments pass codes, as New York City did, a level playing field exists for retailers. Customers would be equally drawn into stores by the other merchandisingapproaches available, not though the doors being left wide open.
Turn it into a marketing opportunity – Nowadays, it’s quite common for retailers to publish their sustainability statement as a way of winning favor with their clientele. Retailers can use this environmentally-responsible action to their favor by informing current and prospective customers of the change—perhaps with a sticker on the door (that can only be seen when it’s shut) to remind customers of their commitment to sustainability.

Let us know what you think!

Sustainability Innovations in the Wastewater Industry

Amul Sathe — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 20:02:07 +0000

Today’s technology innovators view wastewater as a valuable resource.

In 2010, I wrote about Imagine H2O (an incubator hosting prize competitions for water innovations) as they launched their second annual prize competition focused on the water-energy nexus. Recently, I attended Imagine H2O’s 3^rd Annual Water Entrepreneurs Showcase at which the organization announced the winners of their 2011 prize competition for innovations in the wastewater industry.

This year’s competition attracted 50 startups, from which nine finalists were selected. The competition was split into two categories, a pre-revenue track and an early revenue track. Bilexys won the Pre-Revenue Track for its technology that converts wastewater into chemicals which can then be reused in the treatment process. New Sky Energy won the Early Revenue Track for its technology that combines CO2 and industrial wastewater to extract usable chemicals from the wastewater stream. Additionally, Nexus eWater and Tusaar, Inc. were named runners up in the Pre-Revenue Track— Nexus eWater for its technology that converts residential gray water into near-potable water and recycles its energy for hot water heating, and Tusaar for development of a low-cost technology to remove heavy-metal contaminants from wastewater effluent.

Imagine H2O’s event heralds a turning point in the wastewater industry. In the past, wastewater treatment was a service and technology field that was often an afterthought. I found it especially refreshing that three of the four winners and runners up viewed wastewater treatment as an opportunity, not a necessary burden. By viewing wastewater effluent as a resource (from which chemicals can be manufactured, heat can be recovered, and useable water be produced), the winning teams are both creating economic value and increasing sustainability in the water sector. These innovations can save embedded energy by reducing energy use associated with water supply and chemical production. Meanwhile, the remaining finalists in the competition focused on reducing the cost and energy requirements of treating wastewater and producing recycled water, both noble causes.

During the acceptance speeches, one winning team explained they are driven by the idea that “water is one of the few un-substitutable resources on this planet”. As water-stressed regions (including California) continue to see decreases in supply and increases in costs, it will become apparent that wastewater effluent is no longer a waste but instead a resource and path to sustainability.

Imagine H2O places winners in an accelerator program which provides accounting and financial services; introductions to beta customers, financiers, and market partners; assistance in securing lab and/or office space; and publicity. If Imagine H2O’s efforts are successful, we may never look at a wastewater treatment plant the same again.

New Green Tenant Guide Released

California Sustainability Alliance — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 17:03:38 +0000

The Alliance has released the Green Tenant Guide to assist organizations through the process of greening their operations and staff behavior.The Guide incorporates content based on best practice research and is built on the belief that a sustainability program should be treated like any other venture an organization undertakes; it should make business sense, be measurable, and fit within the organization’s overall mission. This guide recognizes that every organization’s situation is different and it will help organizations discover what makes the most sense for their situation and their audience in order to do the following:

Set clear and feasible sustainability goals
Establish buy-in and excitement
Define metrics
Communicate results

The Green Tenant Guide includes a step-by-step approach, specific strategies for greening a workplace, a sustainability program process checklist and a smart goal setting worksheet.To view or download the Green Tenant Guide click here.

2011 Sustainability Showcase Award Recipients Announced!

California Sustainability Alliance — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 17:10:29 +0000

The Alliance is pleased to announce the winners of the 2011 Sustainability Showcase Awards! Each year, the Showcase Awards recognize businesses and organizations in California who are leading the way towards a less energy intensive, low carbon future and provides a platform for the honorees to share their success stories and best practices.

This year’s award recipients (and award categories) are: Kilroy Realty Corporation (Commercial Buildings), First Community Housing (Multifamily Housing), the City of Riverside (Local Government), and Burbank Water and Power (Water Agency). Cathedral City received an honorable mention in the local government category.

Each of the above organizations is dedicated to advancing sustainability goals internally and in the broader community. In addition to achieving emissions reductions and water and energy savings, a number of these organizations have also realized significant economic savings.

In the coming months, we will be posting online showcases featuring each of these organizations. But in the meantime, we’d like to share with you a few of the best practices that make this year’s Showcase Award winners such leaders in their fields:

Winners:

Kilroy Realty Corporation - Commercial Buildings
Kilroy Realty Corporation—a Los Angeles based real estate investment trust with over 60 years of experience—is working to educate and implement sustainability throughout all aspects of real estate. Kilroy’s innovative collaboration between their lighting vendor and the nonprofit, The Rozalia Project, sponsored two weeks of Rozalia’s Summer Trash Tour which removed 1,758 pieces of trash from the ocean. Additionally, Kilroy Realty built the first LEED for Core and Shell building in San Diego and is currently developing the world’s first LEED for Neighborhood Development project.
First Community Housing - Multifamily Housing
First Community Housing (FCH), a California nonprofit located in San Jose, is focused on constructing and managing affordable housing for low-income residents in the San Francisco Bay Area. The company’s Murphy Ranch property in Morgan Hill features Energy Star appliances, LED lighting, low-flow water fixtures, recycled carpeting and innovative features including furniture made from wheat fiber and sunflower hulls, sustainably harvested hardwood floors, PV panels and free transit passes for all residents. FCH has also created a Sustainable Facilities Manager position to ensure that all the company’s buildings are maintained to green standards.
City of Riverside - Local Government
The City of Riverside has implemented multiple initiatives and programs across all City departments to promote energy efficiency and renewable energy, foster alternative fuel vehicle use, and improve water use efficiency. A few of the City’s notable best practices include the Grease-to-Gas anaerobic digestion, Riverside’s Green Action Plan (GAP), Cleaning Up Riverside’s Environmental Program (CURE), the City’s award winning Green Power Radio Show and Riverside’s Sustainability Workbook which is available online and provides hundreds of tips and ideas on how to go green.
Burbank Water and Power - Water Agencies
For nearly 100 years, Burbank Water and Power (BWP) has been providing the City of Burbank with safe and affordable water and electric services. BWP was the first utility in the nation to adopt a commitment to 33% renewable energy by 2020 and continually invests, researches and incorporates new innovative technologies in their sustainability efforts. The BWP Campus improvements include green roofs with rooftop gardens, which absorb 70% of rooftop rainfall; the remaining overflow is captured in underground storage tanks. The campus also features a solar carport that powers more than 100% of the building with the remaining power servicing the community.

Honorable Mention:

Cathedral City - Local Government
Cathedral City staff focus on environmental programs that promote energy efficiency, waste and water reduction, and greenhouse gas reduction. The City’s community-oriented approach to deliver customized solutions is inspiring, as shown through the SCRAP Gallery (Student Creative Recycling Art Project), where city youth use discarded materials from participating local governments to make sculptures and artwork that is displayed throughout the city. This project alone has diverted over 75,000 tons of waste from local landfills.