Commercial Buildings Guzzle 37% of California’s Energy
(Image: Next 10)
A recent study identifies commercial buildings as a stealth drain on the state’s energy resources and economy. The report, “Untapped Potential of Commercial Buildings: Energy Use and Emissions,” produced by Collaborative Economics for Next 10, finds that the energy efficiency or lack thereof in commercial buildings has a significant impact on California’s economy, the state’s overall energy use, global warming pollution emissions and jobs.
Some of the highlights of the study include:
Electricity consumed by commercial office buildings represents 37 percent of california’s total electricity consumption. Based on the U.S. average, energy efficiency improvements could cut that usage by 80 percent.
Only 60 percent of all new commercial building construction meets California energy efficiency standards. With a minimal two percent increase in construction costs, new buildings can be designed to use one-third to one-half less energy than they use today.
Energy efficient buildings retain higher real estate value, commanding higher rents (6-7 percent) and maintaining higher occupancy rates than less efficient buildings.
Simple energy efficiency improvements to existing buildings, such as insulating window films, yield three dollars in savings on average for every dollar invested.
“Up to 80 percent of the energy used by commercial buildings is going up in smoke,” said F. Noel Perry, founder of Next 10. “As our state struggles to emerge from recession, relatively low-tech energy efficiency fixes could save California businesses and the state government significant money and help to generate jobs.”
LED Lighting Grows into Agricultural and Horticultural Sectors
LumiGrow LED Grow Lights
This white paper from LumiGrow, Inc., a LED lighting solutions provider, outlines the benefits of using LED lighting for horticultural and agricultural industries.
When it comes to growing plants, LEDs are steadily gaining ground in this new market segment. Compared to widely-accepted types of grow lights like high pressure sodium, metal halide and fluorescent lamps, LEDs dramatically reduce the energy costs for farmers, growers and horticulturalists. Some studies even show that plants respond more favorably to high-quality LED lighting products.
According to a February 2010 DOE report, the projected energy savings from 2010-2030 as a result of LED lighting systems is estimated to total 1,488 terawatt-hours, representing $120 billion at today’s energy prices. With the widespread adoption of LEDs into general lighting applications, these savings would reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 246 million metric tons of carbon.
Here’s an excerpt from “Selecting LED Lighting for Horticultural Applications” that talks about why LED’s are so well suited for growing plants.
By using LED technology, we can turn electricity into light tailored specifically for plants with no waste heat. LEDs can dramatically improve the efficiency and quality of horticultural lighting by customizing the output spectrum to where plants can use it most. Because LEDs run cool, we can create productive small grow chambers or reduce heating costs in large ones. And, because we can control a mix of different LED colors, we can even mimic the natural seasons by changing the light output spectrum over time.
It’s no surprise that in the $100 billion lighting industry, LEDs are the fastest growing segment, projected to reach $8.2 billion in 2010 and $20.2 billion by 2014.
This Summer, Save Money and Help Prevent Blackouts
Keep cool this summer by sealing and weatherstripping against leaks.
As home and business owners across California prepare for the hot summer months, a growing number of individuals are getting on-board with Flex Your Power’s Flex Alert program. By conserving energy on hot summer days, Flex Alert participants generate up to 1,000 megawatts of conservation, equal to the output of a large power plant. This not only helps prevent blackouts, but also protects the environment by obviating the need for “peaker plants,” the dirtiest of power plants which utilities must use to meet demand when power systems are strained.
Residents and business owners alike can play a critical role in helping California save power on hot days. For businesses, some key steps to prepare for a Flex Alert include:
Enroll in a Demand Response Program. Demand Response Programs typically provide incentives and other benefits to customers who can reduce their power when energy supplies are low.
Improve your overall efficiency. Saving energy year-round means saving money year-round. You can find energy saving tips and recommendations in one of Flex Your Power’s Best Practices Guides. Or explore energy-saving tips for commercial and industrial facilities.
Residents can also prepare for hot-weather days by following our summer energy-saving tips which include:
Perform a do-it-yourself home energy audit. Watch video >>
Use fans to make indoor temperatures feel cooler, most ceiling fans use less energy than a light bulb.
Have your air conditioning unit serviced to cut 15% of cooling costs.
Install a programmable thermostat and only cool the house when you’re home — It can save up to $160 per year and pays for itself in 6-9 months. Watch video >>
Sign up for Flex Alerts! In the event of a Flex Alert, be prepared. We will send you an email or a text letting you know that a Flex Alert is in effect and you can choose to draw-down power at your home or office.
In the event that a Flex Alert does occur, remember these important energy-saving actions:
Turn off all unnecessary lights, computers and appliances including decorative lighting or fountains.
Postpone using major appliances until after 7 p.m.
Turn your building’s air conditioning thermostat to 78° F or higher.
Following these tips will not only save energy and help communities across California avoid blackouts, they will also save you money. Join the thousands of Californians working to save energy this summer and sign up to receive Flex Alert notifications via email or your mobile phone.
Cash for Appliances Continues, Over $25 Million Remaining
The California Cash for Appliances program, which previously only covered purchases made through May 23rd has been extended and will now continue until program funds are exhausted. The program has currently received over 29,000 applications, and remains replete with funds with over $25,880,000 left to dole out to new applicants. The program also allows customers to combine the cash for appliances rebates with any other incentives that might be offered in the region, making it a lucrative time to make the upgrade to an energy-efficient appliance.
For more details visit the website or simply check our rebate finder to locate all rebates in your area.
California Cash for Appliances Program Starts Thursday, April 22
Modern, ENERGY STAR qualified appliances, cost much less to run than their older counterparts. (Image: California Energy Commission)
Starting this Thursday, California residents can apply for rebates ranging from $50 to $200 for purchasing an energy-efficient room air conditioner, clothes washer, or refrigerator from a list of eligible appliances. The Cash for Appliances program, run through the California Energy Commission, is part of the federal stimulus effort aimed at improving efficiency. Rebates are expected to go quickly, and customers can find a list of eligible appliances at www.cash4appliances.org.
To be eligible, you must purchase the new appliance from a California retailer and it must replace an existing appliance, working or nonworking, of the same type. The old appliance must be recycled by a California Certified Recycling Facility. You can also purchase from one of the program’s platinum partners who will deliver and install the new appliance, and recycle the old one for free. Many utilities also offer recycling programs (including recycling incentives), and the Cash for Appliances rebates can be combined with other utility rebates to maximize your incentive.
Rebates will be available on a first-come first-served basis for purchases made between April 22 and May 23. The claim form must be mailed in within 30 days of purchase. The form must include proof of purchase, proof of recycling, a copy of the yellow Energy Guide Label from the new appliance and a copy of a recent utility bill to prove you live in California. For more details visit the website or simply check our rebate finder to locate all rebates in your area.
Join individuals around the world in celebrating Earth Hour by turning off lights, appliances and other electronics for at least one hour this Saturday, March 27 at 8:30 p.m. Started by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), the annual event helps to raise awareness about global warming and demonstrate the collective power of simple, energy-saving actions.
Earth Hour began in Sydney, Australia in 2007, with 2.2 million homes and businesses switching off their lights for one hour. In 2008, participation rose with over 50 million people switching off their lights world-wide, and last year that number sky-rocketted to nearly 1 billion world-wide. Famous landmarks chose to go dark as well including the Golden Gate Bridge, the Empire State Building, the Las Vegas Strip, the Parthenon and Acropolis in Athens, and more.
In the past, some cities have been able to cut electricity demand by 13% during those peak hours. Help your city make an impact by powering down at 8:30 p.m. this Saturday.
A new study recently found that local carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions may result in localized health and pollution impacts unrelated to global climate change. It is widely known that CO2 emitted in one city will eventually mix with CO2 emitted across the globe, contributing to an overall increase in the atmospheric concentration of CO2. As such, it doesn’t much matter where CO2 is emitted in terms of its contribution climate change. In contrast, the new study finds, CO2 may have direct local impacts on health and air pollution related to where CO2 is emitted and where its concentrations are highest.
While older research has found that local “domes” of high CO2 levels often form over cities, little was known about the health impacts of these domes. The study, “Enhancement of Local Air Pollution by Urban CO2 Domes,” by Mark Jacobson of Stanford finds that local CO2 emissions may increase local ozone and particulate matter that contribute to respiratory ailments. The study also estimates that local CO2 emissions may increase premature mortality by 50-100 people per year in California and 300-1000 per year in the United States.
The study carries significant implications for cities where high amounts of CO2 and other pollutants are emitted, and bolsters the already compelling case for local action.
New Report Evaluates No-First-Cost Financing Strategies for Saving Energy
CalCEF Innovations, a branch of the California Clean Energy Fund, recently released its second white paper in its Energy Efficiency series: “Energy Efficiency Paying the Way: New Financing Solutions Remove First-Cost Hurdles.” The paper uses case studies to evaluate newly deployed no-first-cost financing options available to businesses and other entities looking to make energy-saving improvements. Intended for policy-makers, regulators, and private sector firms, the paper analyzes six programs including (among others):
Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE): Government programs, such as the highlighted Palm Desert, CA initiative, offer property owners 20-year loans for Energy Efficiency that are repaid through property tax assessments.
On-bill Financing: Loans for energy efficiency can be re-paid through the customer’s regular utility bill. San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) offers on-bill financing.
These programs help customers overcome the initial financial barriers to otherwise cost-efficient upgrades. Paul Frankel, managing director of CalCEF Innovations explains, “We’ve uncovered a critical gap in the energy efficiency sector, where the deployment of retrofits is not at pace with the large potential for profits—both economical and environmental—due to a perceived cost-prohibitive barrier to entry. Energy efficiency can pay back three or four times on its investment in a relatively short time frame when strategic financing and aggregated deployment strategies are implemented.”
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger announced recently that on January 1, 2011, California will adopt the nation’s first ever mandatory Green Building Standards Code (CALGREEN) to improve efficiency and reduce environmental impact in new California buildings. Under CALGREEN, every new building constructed in California will be required to reduce water consumption by 20 percent, divert 50 percent of construction waste from landfills and install low pollutant-emitting materials, in addition to other requirements. The regulations also call for mandatory inspections of energy systems such as heating, air conditioning, and mechanical equipment for nonresidential buildings over 10,000 square feet to ensure maximum efficiency. The California Air Resources Board estimates that the mandatory provisions will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 3 million metric tons by 2020.
CALGREEN also includes more stringent voluntary provisions to encourage local communities to take further action to green their buildings and improve energy efficiency.
Many of the mandatory provisions in the code are already part of the statewide building code, making verification of CALGREEN an easy transition for local building inspectors. Additionally, building owners will enjoy the benefit of being able to label their facilities as CALGREEN compliant upon passing inspection, without using costly third-party certification programs.
Weatherizing for Winter from Preservation Magazine
Preservation magazine presents a few timely tips for winter energy efficiency. These are especially relevant for slightly older homes. You can check out more videos with tips and DIY instructions here.
