Energy Efficiency for Your Business

By Irene Stillings

Irene Stillings is Executive Director of the California Center for Sustainable Energy (www.energycenter.org), an independent, nonprofit corporation dedicated to fostering public policies and providing programs, services, incentives and workshops that facilitate the adoption of clean, reliable, renewable, sustainable and efficient energy technologies and practices.

More than ever before, Americans are embracing clean energy priorities, agendas and decisions. Harnessing this public interest and directing it toward intelligent decision making and daily lifestyle changes are among the primary missions of the California Center for Sustainable Energy (CCSE).

Founded in 1996, CCSE provides energy-related services and programs to residents, businesses, municipalities and organizations. It serves as the San Diego region’s independent voice on energy issues providing balanced, unfiltered, objective energy information and technical assistance.

CCSE offers local businesses assistance in implementing energy efficiency and reducing their carbon footprint by providing advisory services, including energy auditing, renewable energy alternatives, carbon impact quantification, green building planning and how to obtain rebates for renewable energy technologies. CCSE also conducts dozens of workshops on energy topics and houses the San Diego Energy Resource Center, where you can pick up educational literature and see demonstrations of energy-saving technologies and techniques. Most of CCSE’s services are free, funded by utility ratepayer tariffs.

To get the green ball rolling, take a few minutes to analyze your operations in your business for their impact on the environment. Identify ways to make changes by rethinking, reducing, reusing and recycling.

• Power Down – Don’t just log off computers at night, turn monitors off.
• Light Right – Install energy-efficient lighting, including occupancy sensor switches.
• Recycle Instantly – Place small recycling bins at all work stations and in the break and copy rooms.
• Print Smart – Encourage employees to print double-sided. Distribute company communications electronically.
• Reduce Disposables – Provide each employee a plate and coffee cup. If you must use disposable items, buy biodegradable products.
• Recycled Paper – Use recycled copy paper, letterhead and envelopes and get recycled paper towels and bathroom tissues.
• Right Choices –Select vendors that supply environmentally friendly products or use green practices.
• Time Off – Plug coffee pots and other small electronics into a wall plug or power bar that is controlled by a switch and turned off when not needed.
• Keep Cool – Use fans to reduce air conditioning and install programmable thermostats.
• Routine Maintenance – Energy-consuming devices will run better and cost less to operate if you perform routine maintenance.
• Check Labels – Look for the ENERGY STAR label, which means products use less energy.
• For businesses that want to go beyond the basics, they can consider more proactive measures that require up-front costs that can be recouped in the long term.
• Solar systems, both photovoltaic (PV) and water heating, are now more efficient than ever before, and CCSE can assist in evaluating what systems to consider and how to obtain rebates.
• Evaluate insulation, mechanical systems, motors and HVAC equipment.
• Consider using alternative fuel cars, vans and trucks.

CCSE has the expertise to assist any business that wants to get on the path to energy efficiency and environmental responsibility. We realize going green is a journey, not an end. Contact CCSE for help with greening your business at www.energycenter.org or by calling toll free (866) 733-6374.

Learning More about AB 1103

Eric Scheidlinger Reno Manager, Efficient Sustainable Practices

Starting in 2011, Assembly Bill 1103 will go into effect. The legislation will require that all existing commercial buildings in California have an Energy Star rating before they are leased, refinanced, or sold in their entirety. The new bill will offer both challenges and opportunity for building owners and property managers alike, and even though it will not be enacted until next year, it has ramifications starting now. Breaking Ground recently spoke with Eric Scheidlinger, Reno Manager, Efficient Sustainable Practices, about AB 1103:

Q. What is the rationale behind AB 1103 and who does it affect?

A. AB 1103 is geared towards making existing buildings more energy efficient. For instance, if building A and building B are extremely similar in fit, finish, and rent, but building B has a higher Energy Star rating, then prospective tenants are going to be drawn to building B as it will consume less energy and cost less to operate. Not only does AB 1103 affect owners who will be responsible for disclosing Energy Star ratings, but it also affect brokers and tenants as they need to be aware of what the different Energy Star ratings mean in terms of operating costs.

Q. If the bill does not go into effect until 2011, why should a building owner have any concern now?

A. The Portfolio Manager system, which generates the Energy Star rating, looks at the last 12-month’s worth of utility use for a building. So if a building owner is looking to have a good Energy Star rating in 2011, they should make efficiency improvements promptly so that the Portfolio Manager system can calculate their progress and report accordingly.

Q. Obviously this legislation places added responsibility upon a building owner. How does it create opportunity?

A. Buildings owner who comply with AB 1103 and are committed to make their facilities more efficient can expect a better Energy Star rating which helps make their properties more attractive to prospective tenants.

Q. What is an Energy Star rating and how does a building owner go about getting one?

A. An Energy Star rating is generated by the web-based computer program, Portfolio Manager. This system takes a building’s utility use data over the past year and compares it to buildings of similar type throughout the country. The Portfolio Manager system then spits out an Energy Star rating, the higher the rating, the more efficient the building is relative to others around the country. To get an Energy Star rating for a building, an owner needs to compile some basic information about the building such as: building type (office, educational, warehouse, etc.), building size, weekly operating hours, and number of occupants. This information, along with 12-months worth of utility bills are input into Portfolio Manager and an Energy Star rating is then determined.

Q. What happens if an Energy Star rating is low?

A. If an Energy Star rating is low, the owner has the opportunity to better the score through a variety of efficiency upgrades. By applying these upgrades, the energy use of the building will go down and the Energy Star rating will go up.

Q. What, if anything, should building owners and property managers be doing right now?

A. Building owners and property managers should be pursuing an Energy Star rating on all of their facilities regardless of if they plan on transacting the building. The Energy Star rating provides valuable information on utility consumption and lets decision makers understand how their buildings are performing and enables them to make efficiency improvements.

Need to obtain an Energy Star rating for your building? Contact Eric Scheidlinger at escheidlinger@renoesp.com.