Irene M. Stillings CCSE Executive Director

From the Director's Desk:
Greening Your World on Earth Day and Every Day

April is always an exciting month at CCSE thanks to the public outreach Earth Day brings to important environmental and sustainability issues. CCSE’s involvement with this year’s Earth Day events proved more effective than usual due to extensive media coverage that helped to further awareness. The media featured CCSE frequently in April, but not just for Earth Day events. Several local TV news channels featured CCSE’s ongoing commitment to sustainable energy alternatives and highlighted CCSE’s role as a community resource for adopting renewable energy strategies.

The Fueling Alternatives press launch in the early part of the month set the tone for the media activity that followed. A one-hour KPBS TV special, showcasing the Fueling Alternatives and California Solar Initiative programs aired on April 18th . In addition, a half-hour Earth Day special, on the local ABC affiliate KGTV Channel 10 News, aired twice during prime time, once on Earth Day (April 22nd) and once the following weekend, April 27th. The TV special highlighted the Rebuild Central program, the Energy Resource Center and CCSE in general.

Approaching the six month anniversary of the San Diego wildfires, the NBC local news station, KNSD Channel 7/39, also covered CCSE’s Rebuild Central program that helps fire survivors rebuild green. In addition, the Union Tribune also published an opinion-editorial, written by Program Director, Andrew McAllister in response to recent media coverage of San Diego Unified Schools’ installation of solar power. The op-ed discussed the importance of education and working with non-profit allies like CCSE in the process of transitioning to sustainable energy solutions.

Now with Earth Day behind us, we are continuing to ride the awareness wave in May with several targeted media strategies underway. Not only is CCSE holding another press event to demonstrate green building materials and create awareness for the Rebuild Central program, but also we are launching a major media advertising campaign for the California Solar Initiative ( CSI). For a minimum of 8 weeks starting in May, CSI is sponsoring your local TV and radio traffic reports on four major TV stations (Fox, KFMB, KUSI and Univision) and 20 local radio stations. In addition, you can catch CCSE’s Solar Water Heating sponsorship ads on KPBS National Public Radio for at least another month

CCSE is a co-sponsoring a car wrap of a Toyota Highlander Hybrid vehicle with Smooth Jazz Radio KIFM and Toyota Carlsbad. Look for the CCSE logo and website on the Toyota Hybrid that will be tooling around town making stops at various community events in the latter part of the month and throughout the year. With all this new awareness, we are meeting our goals of the remaining the number one non-profit, community outreach organization providing unbiased information and working as the driving force for “greening your world^SM.”

Wow, Did You See That?

We hope you and other San Diegans were watching when “Sustain San Diego: Working For Tomorrow,” aired on Earth Day, April 22nd at 5:30 pm on ABC. The half hour TV special filmed by our local media partner, KGTV Channel 10 News, reported on several stories about the positive steps being taken to reduce San Diego’s carbon footprint. CCSE was featured prominently in the special as San Diego’s one stop shop for “greening your world.” The show highlighted CCSE’s Rebuild Central program, the Energy Resource Center and other programs and services that demonstrate how San Diegans can work with CCSE to take an active role in reducing San Diego’s carbon footprint. From fire survivors rebuilding green, to installing solar water heating or PV panels, the program walked viewers through exciting ways to participate in a sustainable future. The special aired again on Sunday, April 27th at 5:30. If you missed it twice, you can log onto energycenter.org or 10news.com/sustainsandiego to view the Earth Day special.

CSI Illuminating San Diego

Want to hear the latest traffic report? All you have to do is turn on your radio or TV to find out what’s happening on San Diego’s roads, but now…you’ll also learn the latest about what’s happening on San Diego’s roofs! While you’re figuring out a way to save time and avoid traffic, you’ll find out how to: “save money, save energy, save the planet and GO SOLAR!” CCSE’s CSI program is sponsoring traffic reports on four main TV news stations (KUSI, KFMB, FOX and Univision) and 20 of the most popular local radio stations. CSI will be educating San Diegans on the rebates available for going solar and directing the audience to the energycenter.org website to learn more. Viewers will also see the powerful 15 second public service announcement aired during prime viewing times on Fox and if that’s not enough…check your mailbox for a CSI postcard reminding you of the rebates available for going solar.

Baby Steps Lead to a Smaller Carbon Footprint in Chula Vista

On Tues. April 1, 2008, the Chula Vista Climate Change Working Group presented seven practical "greening" public policy recommendations to Chula Vista's Mayor Cox and four City Council Members. After four hours of discussion and 27 statements of public support, the elected officials voted unanimously to adopt all seven measures within their jurisdiction, thus taking another bold step forward in progressively leading the San Diego region in greenhouse gas reduction policies.

Chula Vista city staff now has 90 days to work out the details of the implementation plan, and CCSE staff will continue to aid Chula Vista in its sustainability efforts. CCSE staff members Andrew McAllister and Andrea Cook, Ph.D. served on the working group that made the climate change policy recommendations, Steve Kapp spoke to council in support of the new green building codes, and Irene Stillings sent a letter indicating strong CCSE support for the proposed measures. The measures adopted by the Council are:

Make your city the next to go green! CCSE is here to help.

For more info contact: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

From Ashes to Flowers

Now, at the six month anniversary of the devastating October wildfires, CCSE is, still, not only a valued resource for the fire survivors, but also a resource for the television media following up on the aftermath. CCSE’s Rebuild Central program was highlighted on NBC 7/39‘s “Green is Universal” program. The special report focused on fire survivors, Jacques and Marcene Lord, who are rebuilding their home green. The Lords spoke to Channel 7 reporter, Greg Bledsoe, about how CCSE and the Rebuild Central workshops helped them get the information they needed to rebuild sustainably. Bledsoe interviewed Rebuild Central Program Manager, Laurie Walker, and Executive Director, Irene Stilling’s, about the ongoing service CCSE provides to help fire survivors. The news story featured video coverage of the Energy Resource Center and the charred site of the Lord’s house made colorful only by the blooming wildflowers they planted following the loss of their home. “We sprinkled wildflowers on our lot because we wanted something positive to look at when we came to the site and we wanted to give our neighbors a better view,” said Marcene Lord. NBC’s “Green is Universal” program is a weekly segment, featured Thursdays during the 4:30 p.m. newscast. If you missed the segment, be sure to watch it on NBC’s website.

A Green Wave Blankets Balboa Park

The sky may have been blue over Balboa Park’s Earth Fair, but green was definitely the color of the day! The California Center for Sustainable Energy was part of the fair that attracted more than 60,000 people. The celebration took place on Sunday April 20th at San Diego’s beautiful Balboa Park. This Earth Fair is the largest free annual environmental fair in the world. The fair is produced by more than 400 volunteers ready to spread the message of Earth Day. The displays represented every type of environmental organization, governmental program and cause that address the environment and sustainability. CCSE participated in the day-long event as effective community outreach to spread the word about our programs, resources and services. Information about the Fueling Alternatives Program, California Solar Initiative, Solar Water Heating Pilot Program, Free Shade Trees, Energy Resource Center and Rebuild Central was discussed throughout the day to thousands of fair-goers. Kudos to the dedicated staff, who worked over the weekend to keep the public informed about CCSE’s offerings for Greening Your World^SM.

Past and Future Meet at San Juan Capistrano’s Earth Day Celebration

CCSE Employees, Kara Holman and Adrienne McCrumb, at San Juan Capistrano's Earth Day Celebration

A quaint town steeped in Southern California beauty, charm and history, San Juan Capistrano, set the stage for Orange County’s major Earth Day event. CCSE proudly returned this year to the mission town’s Earth Day celebration held at the community center. Always a well attended event, Southern Orange County residents and students were out in big numbers and were eager to learn about the California Center for Sustainable Energy. The students at the local middle and elementary school stopped by CCSE’s display and were excited to discover more about Earth Day. Adrienne McCrumb and Kara Holman handed out Earth day workbooks for the kids containing word searches, crossword puzzles and games that taught the basics about energy efficiency. The students were interested in hearing about solar energy and what they can do to help the environment.

Solar Water Heating Piping Hot

The California Center for Sustainable Energy is turning up the heat offering a 3-day intensive course in solar water heating installation basics. The course caters to installers, contractors and individuals looking for a career in solar water heating ( SWH). Anyone looking to improve skills in assessing, designing, installing and troubleshooting SWH systems is encouraged to attend. CCSE is excited to be part of creating green jobs, while increasing the number of qualified installers to implement renewable energy solutions.

Skip Fralick, energy engineer for the SWH Pilot Program, and Ben Scurfield, owner of Scurfield Solar, will present information on SWH history, principles, load estimating, sizing, economics, codes, installation criteria and system applications. The course will contain both lecture and hands-on training. The fee for the 3-day course is $150, and attendance is limited to 30. Attendees are also asked to purchase Solar Hot Water Systems, Lessons Learned, 1977 to Today by Tom Lane (approximately $30). Lunch will be provided each day of the course. Payments must be made by check only. Checks should be made payable to the California Center for Sustainable Energy. To enroll, you MUST register on-line at www. SWH.energycenter.org Please visit the website or call: 877-333-SWHP (7947) with questions regarding the course.

Renewable Trash

On April 10, 2008 the California Center for Sustainable Energy joined Otay Water District’s Board of Directors, County Supervisor Diane Jacobs, and various other local elected officials in celebrating the commissioning of Jamacha Landfills new microturbine project. The project converts methane gas from the Jamacha Landfill to electric power. The remarkable fact is that as trash decomposes, it creates methane - green house gas - that escapes into the atmosphere contributing to climate change. Now, the methane will be converted to a renewable source that will power the landfill. So instead of using electricity to power the Otay Water District’s plant, the energy source will be renewed from your trash!

Now, Jamacha Landfill will supply approximately 85 percent of the power required for all treatment plant operations during winter months and approximately 65 percent of required power during the summer months. It is estimated that the highly efficient microturbines will generate approximately 1.5 million kilowatt hours of electricity annually.

Otay Water District was granted $273,000 dollars in incentive monies through the California Public Utilities Commission’s Self-Generation Incentive Program ( SGIP) to offset the initial capital investment that was associated with the installation of the project. The Self-Generation Incentive Program provides financial incentives for customers in SDG&E, PG&E, SCE and SCG’s service territories who install up to 5 megawatts of clean, distributed self-generation to meet all or a portion of the electric needs of their facilities. The California Center for Sustainable Energy administers SGIP in San Diego Gas & Electric’s service territory.

Inside the San Diego Energy Resource Center Lending Library

The Energy Resource Center ( ERC) has a vast array of books, periodicals, DVD's and tools to assist businesses and home owners with energy efficiency products, services and practices. Books, periodicals and DVD's can be checked out free of charge. Please call toll-free: 1-866-SDENERGY for more information. For a look at tools and resources available in the lending library, click here. ERC Featured Display Name: “Average Joe” Sculpture Description: The "Average Joe" sculpture was created by "Ecografik," a division of the AIGA San Diego chapter (American Institute for Graphic Artists). The sculpture is meant to demonstrate the amount of waste the average Joe creates daily and to spark dialogue among the public regarding waste consumption and the potential for recycling. Joe is made of completely recycled materials inside and out. Joe was created for the AIGA "Y" Conference on Sustainable Design held at USD on March 29-30th and has found a home in the ERC at CCSE for all to see. Systems Addressed: Recycling ERC Featured Instrument Name: Bacharach Fyrite Pro Residential Combustion Gas Analyzer, Model: 24-8105 Description: The Fyrite Pro is perfect for HVAC professionals who service and evaluate residential furnaces and appliances. The Fyrite Pro allows you to verify and adjust the efficiency of residential furnaces and appliances quickly and easily, enabling you to increase your overall service productivity. It provides you the necessary information to conduct a combustion test, CO safety test, draft test and differential pressure test in one instrument. The compact and ergonomically designed Fyrite Pro provides quick and accurate measurement of oxygen (O2), ambient and combustion air, stack temperatures, carbon monoxide (CO), draft and differential pressure. Calculations include: combustion efficiency, excess air, carbon dioxide (CO2) and CO air free. Features and Benefits: Simple to use. Turn unit on, select fuel, insert probe Each test can be recorded using an optional infrared printer (no wires) Hold key freezes the readings and transfers them to the infrared printer Tactile feedback from the instrument's keypad assures that the appropriate key has been activated Four alkaline batteries typically offer 24 hours of continuous operation Automatic power off ensures long battery life Optional protective rubber boot with magnet provides hands free operation Error message informs you of an instrument or sensor failure CE certified Availability: Loaned free of charge for up to 5 business days. Remember: Safety first! ERC Featured Book Name: Rethinking Water Management Author: Caroline M Figuères, Cecilia Tortajada and Johan Rockstöm Description:Renewable blue water flows will very soon be insufficient to meet the growing demands of the industrial, agricultural and domestic sectors. Within a generation, the proportion of the world’s population facing acute water stress could be as high as 50 percent, because of increased pollution, population growth, urbanization, economic growth and, above all poor management practices. The awareness of this crisis is growing, and with it, the realization that new approaches to water management are desperately needed. This book will provide the resources to create them. In it, many of the most successful and innovative managers today explain what can be achieved and how to improve the conservation of water, its distribution and its quality. NOTE: Books, periodicals and videos can also be checked out free of charge at CCSE. Please call Toll Free: 1-866-SDENERGY for more information. To find prior editions of "Inside the San Diego Energy Resource Center Lending Library" information, including DVD reviews, click here.

Energy Policies, Regulations & Legislative Updates

A Summary of Recent California Public Utilities Commission regulatory activity, and what it mean to to the average consumer, business and/or public agency: Energy Efficiency (R.06-04-010) What’s this? This is the forum for initiating the next planning cycle for 2009-2011 energy efficiency ( EE) program plans, funding levels and related issues. What’s new? The utilities’ applications for approval of their 2009-2011 energy efficiency portfolios, as well as the joint application for approval of the final California Energy Efficiency Strategic Plan, are to be filed by the utilities no later than May 15. As per the Assigned Commissioner's and Administrative Law Judge's Ruling regarding May 15, 2008 Energy Efficiency Portfolio Plans for 2009 – 201, issued on April 21, the utilities are required to include integrated demand-side management (IDSM) programs in their 2009-2011 energy efficiency and demand response portfolio applications. In addition, all programs involving the coordination and/or integration of energy efficiency and demand response measures, funding or programs must be included in both the energy efficiency and demand response portfolio applications for 2009-2011. California Solar Initiative, Self-Generation Incentive Program and Other Distributed Generation Issues (R.08-03-008) What’s this? This new rulemaking will continue the work of R.06-03-004, developing and refining policies, rules and programs for the California Solar Initiative ( CSI) and the Self-Generation Incentive Program ( SGIP) and considering policies for the development of cost-effective, clean and reliable distributed generation ( DG). What’s new? On April 22, a Prehearing Conference (PHC) was held at the CPUC to discuss the scope of this new proceeding, including the CSI, SGIP, DG and DG Cost Benefit Methodology issues to be addressed. SWHPP: On April 3, CCSE, together with the California Solar Energy Industries Association (CALSEIA), filed their Petition for Modification of Decision 06-01-024 regarding the Solar Water Heating Pilot Program (SWHPP). Among other program changes, CCSE and CALSEIA seek to expand the geographic reach of the SWHPP, extend the SWHPP for an additional six months and provide an increased incentive for residential systems. Responses to the Petition for Modification were due April 24, and CCSE’s and CALSEIA’s Reply to the Responses was due May 1. CSI: On April 21, the Assigned Commissioner’s Ruling Requesting Comments on Proposed Energy Efficiency Measures for the California Solar Initiative Program was issued. Parties have twenty days from the date of the Ruling to file comments on the energy efficiency proposal, including the two options offered and reply comments are due ten days after. SGIP: At its April 24 meeting, the CPUC approved its proposed decision, granting in part FuelCell Energy’s Amended Petition for Modification of Decision (D.) 04-12-045. This decision will allow for payment of incentives for projects up to 3 megawatts ( MW) from prior years' SGIP carryover funds, with incentives for projects between 1 MW and 2 MW receiving incentives at a 50% incentive rate and between 2 MW and 3 MW at a 25% incentive rate. Sunrise Powerlink Transmission Project (A.06-08-010) What’s this? San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) seeks authority from the CPUC to construct a 500 kV transmission line in conjunction with several 230 kV transmission lines, expected to run 150 miles through the Imperial Valley to San Diego. What’s new? Phase 2 evidentiary hearings began April 7-9 at CCSE in San Diego and then continued at the CPUC's courtroom in San Francisco during the weeks of April 14-18, April 21-25, and April 28-May 2. These hearings will continue day-to-day as necessary. In addition, two additional public participation hearings have been set for May 12, from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. in Borrego Springs. These hearings will provide the public an opportunity to comment on SDG&E’s application, and these comments will be considered by the CPUC in its decision-making process; however, they will not be accepted as comments on the Draft Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement (Draft EIR/EIS) because the comment period for the Draft EIR/EIS closed on April 11. Greenhouse Gas Emissions Cap (R.06-04-009) What’s this? Initiated out of Assembly Bill ( AB) 32, this will design and implement a greenhouse gas ( GHG) cap for the regulated electric utilities, including consideration of a GHG performance standard. What’s new? On April 16, the Administrative Law Judge’s Ruling Updating Proceeding Schedule and Requesting Comments on Emission Allowance Allocation Policies and Other Issues was issued. The Ruling establishes the proceeding schedule that will lead to a joint proposed decision of the CPUC and the California Energy Commission ( CEC) with recommendations to the California Air Resources Board ( CARB) on remaining policy issues regarding GHG regulatory strategies for the electricity sector, including allocation of emission allowances, flexible compliance mechanisms, the treatment of combined heat and power ( CHP) facilities, and the electricity sector’s potential contribution toward meeting the economy-wide GHG emission reduction goals set by Assembly Bill ( AB) 32. On April 21 and 22, the CPUC and the CEC conducted a joint workshop to discuss GHG emission allowance allocation methods in the electricity sector and review Stage 2 modeling results. On May 2, another workshop was held on GHG emission reduction measures in the electricity and natural gas sectors, including energy efficiency, renewables, CHP and other forms of DG. Then, on May 6, another workshop will be conducted to further discuss modeling issues and provide training regarding operation of the revised GHG calculator. . For a complete list of energy-related State and Federal legislation, please visit our Web site at www.energycenter.org.