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Green Tenant Guide - Business
March 13, 2012

The Alliance has developed a set of tools to help guide organizations through the process of greening their operations and staff behaviors. Intended to be an ongoing reference, the Green Tenant Guide aims to walk organizations through planning and implementing their sustainability program. Readers will learn how to work with organization leadership, property managers, and staff to set clear and feasible goals, establish buy-in and excitement among employees, define metrics, and measure and communicate results.
Green Tenant Guide - Local Government
March 13, 2012

The Green Tenant Guide is designed to guide local governments through the process of greening their operations and staff behaviors. Intended to be an ongoing reference, the Green Tenant Guide aims to walk agencies through planning and implementing their sustainability program. Readers will learn how to work with organization leadership, property managers, and staff to set clear and feasible goals, establish buy-in and excitement among employees, define metrics, and measure and communicate results.
Overcoming Split Incentives in Office Buildings
November 14, 2010

In November, 2011 the California Sustainability Alliance presented this poster at the Behavior, Energy and Climate Change Conference (BECC), on the role of utilities in overcoming split incentives in office buildings. Currently, commercial office buildings are responsible for over 14% of natural gas consumption and 24% of electricity consumption in the commercial sector, statewide. The poster discusses ways in which utilities can leverage the Alliance’s Green Leases Toolkit, which identifies how sustainability can be incorporated into the entire leasing process from both tenant and landlord perspectives. Additional potential utility programs are also outlined, such as rebates, financing, and marketing and outreach approaches.
Local Government Green Procurement Guide
September 8, 2010

Many local governments would prefer to buy green products and services, but don’t know where to start – or whether they can afford it. The Alliance’s Green Procurement Guide is designed to help local governments craft and implement green procurement policies, and shows that green products are a clear win. Often costing no more than conventional products, they can help local governments save money, create local green jobs, and reduce their environmental footprint. The guide incorporates case studies, simple steps to establish green procurement policies, and sample green bid specifications. While the guide is tailored for local government applications, all organizations can benefit from the policies, processes, and practical resources featured.
2010 Utility Sustainability Roundtable Report
August 26, 2010

In May 2010, the Alliance led a roundtable discussion with representatives from leading utilities across the nation to share ideas and implementation strategies for sustainability and energy efficiency programs. The discussion revealed that despite significant advances in energy efficiency technologies and programs, many questions remain about how to implement innovative energy efficiency and sustainability programs in the face of aggressive new goals and changing regulatory environments. This document summarizes the participants’ views on the primary financing, regulatory, and technological barriers facing the industry, and addresses the changing role of utilities as smart grid and comprehensive sustainability programs are implemented.
Multifamily Housing Strategy Guide- Developing a Sustainability Plan
March 30, 2010

Sustainable rehabilitation offers an opportunity to strategically combine various improvements in a way that can achieve utility cost savings, reduce consumption, and improve resident comfort and health. An integral part of a successful green housing strategy is planning in advance to establish policies, identify opportunities, implement a test pilot, and apply best practices. This strategy guide offers resources and information for developing a sustainability plan for multifamily housing projects. Incorporating sustainability at the planning level involves consideration of the following key actions: 1) Benchmarking your organization’s practices, policies and procedures, 2) Setting goals, developing strategies and actions, and 3) Assessing the sustainability of properties and areas for improvement.
Multifamily Housing Strategy Guide- Financing
March 30, 2010

One of the greatest challenges to improving sustainability of multifamily housing properties is the high up‐front cost of some energy and water efficiency measures. To help overcome this barrier, utilities and local, state, and federal governments have created innovative financing and incentive programs. These programs generally include rebates on equipment, tax incentives, grants, or low interest loans, and they vary greatly from location to location. This strategy guide includes an overview of some of the most commonly available funding mechanisms and financing strategies to support sustainability initiatives.
Multifamily Housing Strategy Guide- Green Property Management
March 30, 2010

Sustainability improvements can create value in existing multifamily properties by reducing energy and water costs and increasing attractiveness to current and future tenants. While lack of resources often limits the extent of environmental improvements, it is important that property managers have a framework in place to identify and implement those measures that are feasible. This guide focuses on relatively easy and low cost strategies for improving building sustainability, such as implementing best practices for operations and maintenance activities, and paying close attention to building envelope, heating and cooling, water, and lighting systems.
Sustainability Programs, Strategies and Tools Used by California Local Governments
June 12, 2009

California’s aggressive clean energy, climate, and environmental goals can present a confusing maze of policies, rules, and regulations to even the most dedicated local governments. To help local officials in California successfully develop and implement sustainability plans to meet these goals, the California Sustainability Alliance and Public Technology Institute surveyed California cities to identify the types of sustainability benchmarking and analytical tools needed by local governments. This report presents the responses of 76 California cities on the types of plans and policies being implemented, primary barriers along with strategies for overcoming them, and suggested improvements that are needed for greater success in sustainability efforts.
Green Property Condition Assessment Recommendations for the Mark-to-Market Green Initiative
September 22, 2008

This study presents several recommendations for enhancing the performance and delivery process for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Mark-to-Market (M2M) Green Initiative program. The M2M Green Initiative is a nationwide pilot program designed to incorporate green principles into property rehabilitation, repairs, and replacements for properties undergoing a M2M restructuring. The recommendations suggested here are primarily related to improving technical and economic analysis requirements, improving utility monitoring requirements, and providing more specific guidance for selection of qualified contractors.