Outstanding Individual Achievement in Energy
Vice Chancellor Steven Relyea
University of California, San Diego
Steven Relyea, the vice chancellor for business affairs at the University of California San Diego (UCSD), is a sustainability champion. His vision, leadership, and collaborative approach have bolstered UCSD’s reputation as one of the nation’s greenest college campuses. His hard work and dedication have led to greater energy efficiency, implementation of sustainable technologies and an overall positive change towards more sustainable operations, behavioral changes, water conservation, waste diversion and even green purchasing. The Vice Chancellor also prompted the formation of the Climate Solutions Work Group, a campus committee that enables high-level decision-makers, faculty, operations staff, and students to collaborate and consider major campus energy and sustainability projects. In addition, he was instrumental in setting aggressive standards for green energy on campus and supporting the implementation of one of the most successful renewable energy programs among the nation’s universities. UCSD’s green energy program includes the installation of 1 megawatt of photovoltaic power with a second megawatt to be installed in 2009. UC San Diego has also completed $60 million in building retrofits, reducing energy use by 20% or 50 million kWh per year, translating to a savings of $12 million per year. Feature plans include installation of biogas fuel cells and wind energy purchases that will produce 29 million kilowatt hours a year.
Outstanding Organizational Achievement in Energy
County of San Diego
From their new state-of-the art Edgemoor Skilled Nursing Facility to the aquatic playground at Hilton Head County Park and the HVAC upgrades at the Health Services Complex, the County of San Diego has continually demonstrated a strong dedication to creating a sustainable future. With an energy efficiency concept in mind, the new Edgemoor Facility features energy efficient technologies, extensive use of day lighting and skylights, high efficiency fluorescent lighting and occupancy sensors throughout the building. The County projects that the energy-efficiency upgrades at Edgemoor will save an average of 1.2 million kWh annually. The County’s Health Services Complex also underwent an energy retrofit, replacing six packaged rooftop DX air conditioning units with a new ultra-efficient all variable speed chiller plant employing Hartman LOOP control technologies. A new more efficient chilled water distribution system was also installed with these upgrades resulting in savings of $222,000 on annual energy costs. The County of San Diego has also created the first admission-free public aquatic playground in San Diego at the Hilton Head County Park. This aquatic playground uses a filtration system that will conserve an estimated 527,000 gallons of potable water, 6,876 kWh of energy and 2.33 metric tons of CO2 emissions annually. The project also used recycled plastic and tires to create the playground structures. These projects truly exemplify the County’s leadership in the area of sustainability. 
Special Achievement in Energy by a Small Business
Innovative Cold Storage Enterprises, Inc.
Innovative Cold Storage Enterprises Inc. (ICE) provides cold storage services to the public storage industry. When they decided to build an additional facility called “ICE-2”, the company committed to design, construct and operate their new facility with minimal impact on the environment. The interior of the new warehouse was designed with extremely narrow aisle racking to maximize the use of space. Efficient storage and retrieval was achieved through the use of radio frequency technology and electric forklifts that recharge with energy generated by the weight of the product being lowered from the racks. ICE-2 is 62% more energy efficient than a baseline storage facility, providing annual energy savings of 3,409,639 kWh. A 1 megawatt solar PV system was installed on the roof of ICE-2, which is jointly owned by ICE and SDG&E. 504 kW will produce approximately 883, 008 kWh per year, providing around 42% of the facilities energy requirements. The other 504 kW, owned by SDG&E, will provide clean, locally generated power for the community. These two measures will prevent 3683 metric tons of CO2 from entering the atmosphere. ICE-2 also uses 75% less water for landscaping and 65% less water for non-process uses. Other measures for water usage consist of re-use of the condensate from refrigeration equipment, a 150,000 gallon underground storm water storage with filtration for recyclable condenser and drip irrigation for landscaping.
Runner-up: Jonathan Segal FAIA, Inc. 
Special Achievement in Transportation
University of California, San Diego
The University of California, San Diego (UCSD) has developed an alternative transportation program that has achieved significant energy savings and reduced carbon dioxide emissions. UCSD estimates that the transportation program saves 18,972 metric tons of CO2 emissions annually. UCSD’s strong commitment to providing sustainable transportation options has reduced the percentage of single-occupant vehicles commuting to campus from 66% of all commuters in 2001 to 49% in 2008. The Free Bus Zone program, which provides unlimited free rides to faculty, staff and students on bus routes serving the campus and medical centers, has more than doubled between 2006 and 2008 from roughly 1,295 riders to over 3,600 riders daily. The Vanpool Program consists of 51 vans carries over 300 riders daily. The estimated annual carbon savings for the vanpool program is 1,112 metric tons of CO2. Other programs include a transit and coaster program, compass card program, campus shuttles, triton bikes program and car sharing.
Runner-up: Plug-In Conversions Corporation
Special Achievement in Energy by a Non-profit
Point Loma Nazarene University
Point Loma Nazarene University (PNLU) is a Christian liberal arts university known for excellence. PNLU has committed to be a steward of resources and they’ve demonstrated their leadership by becoming more sustainable and limiting its dependency on natural resources. PNLU has installed four PV systems, on several buildings totaling 357 kW and providing 56% of the university’s total annual electricity consumption. The systems also offset 86% of the building’s peak electricity usage. In addition, PNLU ensures that all their products are recycled, and in 2007, reported a 54% recycling rate. With more than 3,000 students, PNLU has developed a large-scale food composting program and sends approximately two tons of food waste a week to the Miramar greenery. In order to ensure water conservation, PNLU has retrofitted its restrooms and installed water-saving toilets and waterless urinals saving approximately one million gallons of water a year. With a high number of Acacia bushes around campus, PNLU also has an agreement with San Diego Zoo to send Acacia trimmings to feed some of the Zoo’s animal population.
Runner-up: Mission Bay Aquatic Center
Special Achievement in Energy by a Government/Institution
City of Encinitas
A new library overlooking the City of Encinitas’s Civic Center was the impetus for a clean-up of the Civic Center’s rooftop that was cluttered with air conditioning units, ductwork and rusting gas lines. The City’s Energy Efficiency Improvements Project replaced 29 packaged rooftop HVAC units with fewer air handlers served by a small central plant, off peak ice storage, and an advanced energy management system. New tubular skylighting, along with additional daylighting, and a 96kW solar photovoltaic system were also intergraded into the retrofitted roof. Overall, annual energy costs are expected to be reduced by 74%, saving tax payers $4 million over 25 years. The largest portion of energy reduction is due to the shifting of electrical demand from peak period to off-peak period. This is accomplished through the use of the ice storage system, which consists of a high efficiency scroll chiller used to create ice overnight. Then, during the day, the chilled water piping loop is circulated through the ice storage tanks where it is cooled for use in the coils of the air handling units. As a way to educate the public, the City also installed two touch screens kiosks, one in the library and another in the Civic Center lobby, allowing the public to read and learn about the project. These improvements have resulted energy savings and improved aesthetics for the public looking seaward from the library and neighboring hillside homes.
Runner-up: San Elijo Lagoon Nature Center 
Special Achievement in Energy by a Medium to Large Business
Alexandria Real Estate Equities
Alexandria Real Estates Equities provides first-in-class buildings and leased space to the life science industry. With the goal of reducing energy usage, Alexandria Real Estate Equities decided to implement energy saving measures in two of their high tech lab facilities. Both buildings were upgraded from screw compressors to oil-free TurboCor compressor technology. These compressors use magnetic bearings, variable-speed centrifugal compression and digital electronic controls to achieve high overall efficiencies for chiller applications. In addition, one of the buildings was retrofitted from a constant speed chilled water pumping system to a variable speed chilled water pumping system. Variable speed drives were also added to the cooling tower fans, condenser water pumps, and chilled water pumps. The savings resulting from these retrofit projects include $174,262 annually and 1,148,271 kWh annually.
Runner-up: Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 
Special Achievement in Energy by a Homeowner
Jim Ferguson
Jim Ferguson’s vision of integrating sustainable features and self sufficiency was accomplished with the construction of his dream home. Taking into consideration both the site’s topography and energy efficiency, the home was designed to reach net zero energy consumption. The combination of passive energy savings techniques is what makes this project particularly successful. Installing large south facing windows allows the home takes advantage of the winter’s solar heat gains while its huge overhangs and minimal west facing windows are able to block summer solar heat. The house mass that is recessed into the hillside takes advantage of the earth’s temperature moderations. In addition, the home uses strategic natural ventilation through the installation of a roof hatch, clerestory windows and large windward wind scoop windows. . Due to these measures, the home needs no air conditioning and requires heating for no more than two weeks out of the year. The PV system accounts for an estimated 1660 kWh of total annual energy saved or 90% of total energy usage. Sloped flat roofs with diverters cascade rainwater down and into an otherwise dry riverbed where water is then collected into a small pond and later used to supplement irrigation for the site. This home raises the bar as to what a single homeowner can do to achieve energy savings and reduce their carbon footprint.
Runner-up: Keith and Margie Tannler
