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June 2006 | Home · Event Calendar · Getting Here · Contact Us | ||||
 Upcoming EventsLunch & Learn: Energy, Economics & Environment View a complete calendar of upcoming events. News BitsSubmit an Event! Got an energy-related event that is relevant to the San Diego region? Post it for free in SDREO's Events and Workshops Calendar web page. Complete the 'Submit an Event' form to have your even included in the calendar. Clean EDGE Act. Senate Democrats unveiled a broad energy package with a goal of achieving energy independence for America. Called the Clean EDGE Act of 2006, it sets a national renewable portfolio standard ( RPS) requiring that 10 percent of all electricity produced in the country come from renewable sources by 2020. It also includes a call to reduce petroleum consumption by 6 million barrels a day in 2020 -- or 40 percent of America's projected imports. The bill was introduced and referred to the Senate Committee on Finance on May 17. - More Info - The "H" Prize. Currently passing through Congress is a bill that aims to help overcome technical barriers in the development of a hydrogen-based economy. The H-Prize Act of 2006 would establish a national prize of $100 million for “wells-to-wheels” breakthrough technology. The bill also proposes to award biennially four $1 million prizes for hydrogen production, storage, distribution and utilization, and one $4 million prize for breakthroughs in hydrogen-powered vehicles. It was voted through the House by 416-6 on May 10, and is now awaiting approval by the Senate and the president. - More Info - Low Income Energy Efficiency Symposium On June 8, the California Municipal Utilities Association (CMUA), CPUC, U.S. EPA, and the U.S. DOE are sponsoring a symposium on Low-Income Energy Efficiency (LIEE) Programs. The workshop will be held at the Los Angeles Department of Water & Power’s Main Auditorium from 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. - More Info - SDG&E's Wind Contract Approved. The CPUC approved SDG&E's request to purchase over 200 megawatts of electricity from enXco, a wind energy firm. The contract will contribute approximately 3.5 percent toward meeting SDG&E's goal of getting 20 percent of electricity from renewable resources. - More Info - SDREO Staff News Tech TipAnti-sweat heater controls energize glass doors of freezers and medium temperature cases in convenience and grocery stores when condensation is present. Often running 24/7, standard anti-sweat heaters on glass display doors and refrigerated cases allow a clear view of products by preventing condensation, but at the expense of wasted energy use. Controllers turn off anti-sweat heaters when the device sensor no longer detects condensation, resulting in significant energy savings and simple paybacks of less than one year when calculated with energy rebates. There are several types of controllers: dew-point, pulsing with humidity override, variable load controllers and digital. The latter of which is considered the most accurate with the highest savings. Digital controllers reduce heater run times by about 65 percent to 75 percent, which cut down compressor run times (by about 20 percent for freezer cases) and heater costs by over 60 percent.
Quotables“Environmental sustainability needs to be a continuous initiative that spans the entire life cycle of products.” -- Jennifer Dolin, Environmental Marketing Manager, Osram Sylvania
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| Going GreenCase studies on three local projectsWhat do a government facility, a health center and a retail store have in common? A commitment to green building, which is a process that significantly reduces or eliminates the negative impact of buildings on the environment, occupants and natural resources.
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Casa del Prado Becomes Energy Efficient| Inside the San Diego Energy Resource Center |
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Featured InstrumentName: Veris Industries Hawkeye 8044-100, 480 Volt, 100 Amp, 3-Phase kW Transducers Featured BookThe Energy Design Handbook, edited by Donald Watson, FAIA and published by the American Institute of Architects, presents design concepts and methods architects and engineers can use to create climate responsive, energy-efficient architecture. Including reference material from the AIA Energy Practice Monograph Series and Continuing Education Program, this handbook brings together introductory explanations, guidelines, examples and references of energy design strategies appropriate to particular climates and applications. Featured PeriodicalNorth American Windpower is published monthly by Zackin Publications for decision-making professionals involved in any and all aspects of wind energy generation and distribution business. Serving the needs of the North American marketplace, it features industry and marketplace news, projects and contracts, and new products and technology.
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| Energy Policies, Regulations & Legislative Updates |
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California Solar Initiative and Self-Generation Incentive Program (R.06-03-004) On May 4, the California Public Utilities Commission ( CPUC) held a workshop to discuss their staff proposal on aspects of administration of the California Solar Initiative (CSI). Subsequently, the CPUC received comments from 22 parties addressing the plan including tax incentives, performance-based incentives, incentive reduction triggers, non- PV technologies, energy efficiency and metering requirements for systems and non-utility administration for small solar projects. Additional reply comments were received on May 26. For the 2006 solar program, the CPUC has ruled (D.06-05-025) that the SGIP PV rebate will drop from $2.80 per watt to $2.50 per watt once a 50- megawatt statewide cap is reached. The cap is based on conditional reservations. All SGIP web sites will keep an updated running total of conditional reservations. Greenhouse Gas Emissions Standards (R.06-04-009) The CPUC will hold a workshop on June 21 to address Phase 1 policy and implementation issues for an interim greenhouse gas performance standard. For additional information, visit the CPUC web site. Sunrise Powerlink Transmission Project (A.05-12-014) On June 20, SDG&E will file a status report on its expected July 2006 filing of the update and completion of its CPCN application. If SDG&E expects any delay, they must provide an explanation of the delay and the new expected filing schedule. After SDG&E files their updated application, the public has 30 days to protest it, and SDG&E will have 10 days to respond to protests. On Sept. 13, CPUC will hold a second prehearing conference in the San Diego area (location TBD) at 1:00 pm. Energy Efficiency Proceeding (R.01-08-028) On May 30, the CPUC held an Energy Efficiency All Party Meeting with Commissioners Gruenich and Chong; SDREO was part of the panel. Upcoming events in the energy efficiency proceeding include a June 8 symposium on Low-Income Energy Efficiency Programs in Los Angeles and a General Session on National Action Plan for Energy Efficiency on July 31 in San Francisco. Legislative update: Bills must pass their house of origin (Senate or Assembly) by June 2 to have the possibility of becoming law this year. There are a number of bills that are important to the San Diego region, including the following Senate bills: SB 1250 (Perata) Amends existing law providing incentives for the purchase of new energy efficient refrigerators For a complete listing of current energy-related state bills, visit www.sdenergy.org. - TOP - |
Green Building (cont.)
From new construction to renovation projects, green building can increase property values and lower operating costs through integrated design and high efficiency systems while enhancing key environmental factors. Here are a few local green building projects SDREO facilitated:
The Cave Store A green building rehabilitation project expected to be completed in 2008 is the Cave Store & Residence, the retail portion reportedly the oldest continuously operated business in La Jolla. Plans for the site include converting the roof into a ‘vegetated’ green roof to reduce the heat-island effect and minimize sub aerial erosion, an integrated water management system to collect storm water runoff to be reused for irrigation and electric car parking spaces with charging stations that will be powered by a photovoltaic system. Efforts to incorporate various internal technology elements in the project to enhance building and operating performance are being pursued with the intent of ensuring the preservation of its aesthetic character. – View the Cave Store Case Study (PDF) –
La Maestra The La Maestra Community Health Center in City Heights, on the other hand, is a new construction green building project that will be built from the ground up as environmentally friendly for both residents and the community. The clinic incorporates sustainable design practices from the start by locating the building on a site that takes advantage of prevailing breezes and solar orientation. The facility intends to use materials with a high percentage of recycled content and equipment and materials that are EPA Energy Star-rated. The clinic’s outdoor environment will also be ‘green’ by having native and drought-tolerant landscaping and a high-efficiency irrigation system. Groundbreaking for the project is anticipated for mid-December of 2006. – View the La Maestra Case Study (PDF) –
Goodan Ranch Another new construction project is a 3,200-square-foot interpretive center planned by the San Diego County Department of Parks and Recreation. The new facility will replace the buildings destroyed at the East County Goodan Ranch during the 2003 Wildfires. The project will include extensive green building techniques that focus on energy efficiency, natural lighting, shaded rest areas and recycled content materials. Energy efficiency will be achieved through deep overhangs that limit summertime heat gain, properly oriented windows that take advantage of free wintertime heating, energy-efficient appliances, and high efficiency lighting throughout. It is calculated that the building will exceed the minimum threshold for energy efficiency required by Title 24, California’s stringent building energy code, by more than 50 percent. – View the Goodan Ranch Case Study (PDF) –
All three projects are seeking green building certification through the U.S. Green Building Council and its Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design ( LEED) Rating System®. Technical assistance was provided to all three projects by SDREO’s Green Building Education and Technical Assistance program, which conducted 18 workshops, assisted on 17 projects and helped four municipalities with the adoption of green building policies.
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Casa del Prado (cont.)
The Casa del Prado project is part of a larger city initiative -- to achieve 50 megawatts of energy efficiency improvements in the city of San Diego over the next decade, 10 percent of which will be efficiency upgrades in city-owned facilities.
According to Stillings: "In 2003, SDREO helped SANDAG, the city of San Diego and other stakeholders produce an ambitious long-range energy strategy. That plan called for major reductions in energy demand throughout the greater San Diego region. Today, we are very excited to partner with the city in pursuit of its goal, for this is exactly the sort of commitment envisioned in that long-range strategy."
Receiving the symbolic check were Councilmember Toni Atkins, San Diego Sustainable Energy Advisory Board Chairperson Mike Turk and San Diego Environmental Services Department Director Elmer L. Heap Jr.
"Reducing energy consumption in city facilities and private buildings will eliminate the need to build new electrical generating plants, which in turn will save the $100 million it would cost to build just one plant," said Councilmember Atkins. In addition to saving money, reducing energy demand by 50 megawatts reduces greenhouse gases, which trap heat in the atmosphere and are associated with global climate change.
Energy-saving retrofit opportunities at the Casa del Prado were identified by SDREO energy engineers Ben Erpelding and Jason Knight. The upgrades were completed in March 2006 and included energy-efficient T8 lighting, compact fluorescent lamps, a high-efficiency boiler, Turbocor oil-less compressors and an all-variable speed central plant controlled by the Hartman LOOP. A new Energy Management Control System was also installed to efficiently and effectively control the building HVAC, reduce maintenance costs and monitor equipment operation from a remote location. Find out more by downloading the Casa del Prado case study (PDF).
The project was funded by financial incentives from SDREO's Local Government Energy Efficiency Program and a low-interest loan from the California Energy Commission. The loan will be repaid with the funds freed up from the energy savings.
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Energy Savings Bid Program (cont.)
What's unique about the ESB program is customers and project sponsors design energy-saving projects and propose the incentive amount necessary to implement the project. The recommended maximum project incentive is limited to the lesser of 100 percent of the project's measure cost or an incentive based on the proposed incentive levels listed below:
- Up to $0.07 per annual kWh savings for lighting;
- Up to $0.10 per annual kWh savings for electric;
- Up to $0.20 per annual kWh savings for AC and refrigeration; and
- Up to $0.80 per annual therm savings for natural gas.
ESB is open to all non-residential SDG&E customers, project sponsors and third parties. Electrical projects must save a minimum of 500,000 kWh annually while natural gas projects must save a minimum of 25,000 therms annually. All energy efficiency measures must be retrofits or replacements of existing, operating equipment.
For more information, visit SDG&E's ESB program web page. For local governments, military and public or private K-12 schools, visit SDREO's Tax-Exempt Customer (TEC) Incentive Program.
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Copyright 2006 San Diego Regional Energy Office
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