October 20, 2009

Congratulations AB 920!

Posted by Steve Sacks under Energy, Government, Incentives and Rebates, Law, Legislation, and Policy, Photovoltaic, Wind | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , |
Leave a Comment 

AB 920 was signed into law last week.  The law requires that utilities pay for energy they receive through net metering.  We have followed AB 920 (previously AB 1920) here at the CGBB since we posted our first articles nearly a year ago.  AB 920 is the common-sense approach to net metering.  

Net metering is an arrangement whereby utilities purchase power from consumers who generate power from solar arrays or small wind turbines.   Previously, utilities would provide credits against a utility bill.  Starting in 2011, utilities will be forced to pay power-producers wholesale rates for the power (if a credit remains at the end of the calendar year).   Cash compensation to the original power producer makes sense because the utility makes money by selling that same power to end users.  

AB 920 is a great step, but California needs to travel light years before we realize the “million solar roofs” idea.  At the very least, California needs to abandon the limits on the sizes of residential power production.  Currently, to be eligible for net metering, residences must limit the size of their solar array or wind turbine.  PG&E and other utilities argue that larger arrays and turbines will result in higher electricity rates for those not participating in net metering.  This argument can not be summarily dismissed.  There are legitimate concerns about reliability from residential power producers.  However, utility concerns can be addressed in future legislation (such as infrastructure service fees or production guarantees for net meter users over a certain size).   I appreciate that ideas such as this were left out of AB 920 in order to get it passed, but by no means does this mean the work is done.

Also, the net metering program has an overall cap, and after the cap is met residential power producers are not compensated for their power produced.  AB 560, proposed by Assemblymember Nancy Skinner, representing the 14th District, would have raised the cap for net metering power available for purchase from 2.5% of peak power to 5% of peak power.  PG&E supported that bill, but it died in committee .  For an article on some of the issue with the bill, click here.

AB 920 represents a positive step for residential solar and wind power in California, but we have miles to go before we sleep.

 

October 15, 2009

Small Wind – The Million Solar Roofs’ Answer To Nighttime

Posted by Steve Sacks under Energy, Government, Green Economy, Law, Legislation, and Policy, Research, Wind | Tags: , , , |
Leave a Comment 

“Big wind” is just that.  Big.  With big wind comes big power generation.  Thing is, big wind also needs LOTS of STRONG wind.     That level of wind doesn’t blow in most areas, especially residential areas.  Understandably, most people do not want to live in consistently strong wind….including San Franciscans.  

“Small wind” also follows its name.  “Small wind” or small wind generators (SWGs) are defined as a wind turbine whose production capacity is 100kW or less, or 50kW or less (according to the American Wind Energy Association[AWEA] and Consumer Energy Center [CEC] respectively).

Big wind is not a good option for San Francisco.  According to a CEC PIER report in 2004, San Francisco only has a “moderate” wind resource for medium and large wind projects. For a city aiming to generate 50 MW of in-city renewable energy by 2012, that’s bad news.   But a new report issued by the San Francisco Urban Wind Power Task Force suggests small wind projects could yield results.  Placing such projects in an urban setting has generated the term “urban wind.”  

Some observations in the Urban Wind Report are thinly veiled attempts to provide a positive spin (pun intended) on wind (e.g. ”cats are far more dangerous to birds than wind turbines” ).  But overall the report reflects the diversity of the 44 member task force that composed it, and is a realistic and fair-minded attempt to find solutions. 

The report, offers information and recommendations on the following subjects:

  • Urban wind technologies, testing and certification
  • Data collection and analysis
  • Permitting
  • Costs and incentives
  • Potential impacts on flying animals
  • Workforce development
  • Public awareness and possible demonstration sites

The Urban Wind Report is well written and has lots of useful information, statistics and suggestions.  The report deserves a full read, and at 15 pages, it’s pretty quick. 

Among the 29 recommendations the report recommends:

  • The City should adopt the Small Wind Certification Council (SWCC) certification procedures
  • The City should encourage or require manufacturers to adopt information labels on small wind products
  • The City should lead by example and install wind turbines on city buildings – this is how green building in general got its start, and is a great idea
  • The Department of the Environment should develop an “SF Wind Map” (similar to the SF Solar Map) that provides wind data for consumers
  • The City should explore ways to offer permitting cost refunds
  • The City should consider revising city-wide height limits to allow for greater wind power generation.  This is essential – click here to read the CBBG Post From March 2009 on the subject of siting urban wind
  • Permit applications should require data capture to help build the SF Wind Map
  • The City should encourage the funding and use of federal and state incentives (local incentives are “premature”)
  • The City should implement an on-property-tax-bill financing program, (under development, and similar to the widely lauded Berkeley First program
  • The City should support efforts at the state level to exempt SWGs from property tax increases
  • The City should work closely with groups to minimize bird and bat mortality
  • The City should continue to make small wind companies eligible for the Clean Tech Payroll Tax Exclusion and other incentives
  • The City should consider additional services for small businesses and research
  • The City should encourage training in the small wind industry through schools and labor unions
  • The City departments comply with the Mayor’s Executive Directive 08-08 instructing departments to include wind turbine design in existing and new City facilities
  • The City should revise its Green Building standards to require all new residential and commercial construction and significant renovations to be built with the potential for installing renewable energy devices such as SWGs

San Francisco has lots of fog, and inconsistent wind, that reduces the application of the two frontrunners in alternative energy.  To their credit, Mayor Newsom and the City Council seem undaunted, and consistently press for answers.    Small wind…think of it as a million solar roofs, with a spin …

The full report can be found by clicking here, or by visiting our Case Studies and Reports page.

 

September 15, 2009

“West Coast Green” Conference 2009

Posted by Steve Sacks under Conferences / Conventions, Green Economy | Tags: , , |
Leave a Comment 

West Coast Green is one of the largest green conferences in the United States with roughly 14,000 attendees last year. This year the conference is October 1 – 3 at Fort Mason in San Francisco.  The conference has a very large exposition area with well over a hundred participants in the manufacturing, energy, and building industries. There are dozens of top speakers covering all aspects of sustainable development and green trends.

Attendance in the expo area (usually $40)  is $20 if you click this link.  Attendance to hear speakers is $795 for 3 days and $355 for one day.

Exposition space is still available.

Click Here if you want to register or get more information on West Coast Green.

 

August 28, 2009

Inefficient, But Green…Is That Good?

Posted by Steve Sacks under Carbon, Energy, Finance, Government, Green Economy, Water, Wind | Tags: , , , , , , , , , |
Leave a Comment 

Some power generation facilities store energy during peak hours to later use during off peak hours (and vice versa).  The best example of this is battery storage of energy from wind and solar generators.  Wind and sun generate most of their power during the day, and in the case of solar, there is no energy generated in the evening.  An example of how this process works both ways is in the case of hydroelectric power generation when water is pumped to higher elevations during off-peak hours.  During peak hours the water pumped up is released, and extra power is available.  This method is called “pumped storage.”

These processes result in some energy loss, but proponents say the cost to generate the electricity is minimal, so why not?  For a small hit in efficiency, you get clean, carbon neutral power around the clock.  For the most part, I agree.  Wind, sun and water are in high abundance for power generation, and not an ounce of carbon is produced (though the added wear and tear on equipment eventually leads to shorter life spans, higher maintenance costs, etc…)  This leads to more manufacturing and likely more carbon emissions. Regardless, these methods are all far better than popping up a new coal plant.

Now, add a “new” tool to the tool box.  Compressed Air Energy Storage (“CAES”).  I guess it’s been around for a while in Germany and Alabama, so it’s not so “new.” But it is possibly new to California!   An article from the San Francisco Chronicle on August 27, 2009 details how PG&E is seeking a federal grant of $25 Million to design a facility in Kern County, CA using CAES.  Kern County is about half-way between LA and San Francisco.  The facility would use power generated by solar and wind to pump air into porous rock reservoirs.

Then, at night when the sun’s gone, or on a day when the wind won’t blow, the compressed air is released and generates electricity.  The plant PG&E would like to see would provide 300 MW for 10 hours…that’s enough to power 750 homes.

The total cost of the facility would be about $300 Million over five years.  That may seem like a lot, but when you realize that once it’s up and running there are no added costs for fuel, it starts to make sense.

By 2010, PG&E needs to generate 20% of it’s power from renewables.  They’re not going to make it, but with efforts like this and the recent deal with BrightSource Energy (full disclaimer, BrightSource is a client of Bell, Rosenberg & Hughes, the workplace for the authors of this blog), no one can say PG&E isn’t trying.  According to a recent article in the Sacramento Business Journal, Peter Darbee, CEO and Chairman of PG&E stated PG&E has contracts that will allow the utility to deliver up to 24 percent of its energy from renewable sources by 2013.

CAES doesn’t sound ideal, but creativity like this can only lead to better things.  Also, with a carbon credit market likely around the corner, facilities like this may generate unforeseen dividends.

For the San Francisco Chronicle article that includes a great illustration of CAES, click here

For the Sacramento Business Times Article, click here

 

August 4, 2009

Big Box Stores For Green Building Supplies

Posted by Steve Sacks under Green Economy, Innovators, Make Money, Marketing Ideas, Materials and Manufacturing | Tags: , , , , |
Leave a Comment 

New Home is a Bay Area-based company opening “Big Box” sized showrooms that will offer green building supplies for consumers and builders.  Rich Rifkin, the founder of New Home, plans to start by opening 10 stores in the Bay Area and Sacramento.  The stores will offer over 200, 000 products as well as educational materials and videos.  The first stores are slated to open in San Rafael and Dublin (two good places to start, IMHO). 

An online presence will be important to the success of the business, and Mr. Rifkin is off to a good start. The website, www.newhomeinc.com is under construction (pun, if there is one, intended), but offers a look at what’s to come.  Essentially, the website will offer a virtual version of the green building mega-stores. 

Everything is in the nascent stages, but Mr. Rifkin’s idea is likely bound for success.  With the overwhelming momentum of greening building codes, large outlets specializing in green products are not only novel, they’re essential.

The Conta Costa Times ran a good article on this: Click Here

Thanks to Jennifer Rankin for tipping me off to this story!

 

July 15, 2009

California To Get $183 Million to Weatherize Homes

Posted by Steve Sacks under Building Operations, Energy, Government, Green Economy, Incentives and Rebates, Law, Legislation, and Policy, Make Money, Save Money | Tags: , , , , , , |
Leave a Comment 

California will get $183 million in federal funds just to weatherize homes. Now, this is a tremendous improvement from the $6.3 million originally budgeted, but I’m speculating there’s a dark side to this story…

The reason there is a push of money into the weatherization program is because money in the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA) that is set aside for construction is underutilized. Remember, projects need to be “shovel ready” to receive money under ARRA.  With state budgets in the tank before ARRA, there are not a lot of projects that fit the criteria. Now, money is still on the table, and the clock ticking. The federal government is looking for ways to spend and get the construction industry back on its feet.  

Weatherization is a good start.  It addresses remodeling, which is an area of construction that is woefully overlooked by the green building sector.

Check back here later to find out more about ARRA funds and green building.  In the meantime, click here  to read an article from the AP on the weatherization windfall.

 

July 9, 2009

Residential Solar Leases

Posted by kevinjeong under Building and Design, Energy, Finance, Green Economy, Lease | Tags: , , , |
Leave a Comment 

Solar power is on everyone’s mind these days.  We still remember the exorbitant oil prices of the summer of 2008, when oil reached it’s peak of over $150 a barrel.  However, for many, solar energy, much like hybrid cars, are a cost-prohibitive luxury.

SolarCity, a California solar provider, hopes to change all of that.

Instead of having consumers front the cost of the equipment and installation of solar systems, which can range anywhere from $50 – $75,000,  SolarCity , with financing from U.S. Bancorp,  will front the cost, and the consumer pays a set monthly lease.  In a way, this is similar to a power purchase agreement used by energy companies and local governments.

On average, a consumer is estimated to save about 10 – 15% of their current monthly energy bill.

Read the complete article here.

 

June 25, 2009

PG&E Inches Closer to Meeting California’s Renewable Energy Mandate

Posted by kevinjeong under Energy | Tags: , , |
1 Comment 

Today, PG&E announced that it reached a deal with NRG Energy, Inc., a New Jersey energy provider, for the construction of the 90-megawatt Alpine SunTower that will use solar thermal technology.

Though not a strictly renewable energy company, NRG has significant interests wind, as well natural gas, oil, coal, and nuclear facilities.  In May 2009, NRG completed the acquisition of Reliant Energy, Inc.’s Texas retail operations.

This brings PG&E one step closer to meeting the 2010 mandate of 20% renewable energy.  By 2020, all energy retailers must procure 33% of their electricity from renewable energy sources.  (click here to read the Governor’s Executive Order)

NRG is partnering up with ESolor (solar thermal technology provider) to build 500 megawatts of solar thermal power across the southwestern United States.

(Click here for the full article)

 

June 22, 2009

Green Hospitals

Posted by Sarah Grilli under Building Operations, Building and Design, Conferences / Conventions, Law, Legislation, and Policy, USGBC / LEED | Tags: , , , |
Leave a Comment 

A key objective of green building is improving the health of building inhabitants.  The US EPA has reported that Americans spend 90% of their time on average indoors, making healthy indoor environments seem like an obvious choice. And building a healthy environment for healing seems like an even more obvious choice.  Centuries ago, didn’t doctor’s instruct the sick to recuperate  in the countryside partially because something about clean air and a non-toxic environment led to healing? Well, it seems that modern medicine has begun to recall this basic remedy, and the push for greening healthcare environments has finally begun to make some inroads.

In San Francisco last month a partner at our firm, Eric Phillips, spoke at the Greening Hospitals Breakfast Form event organized and sponsored by Turner Construction, HDR Architects, Mazzetti & Associates and Bell, Rosenberg & Hughes. The forum was a chance for hospital employees, contractors and design professionals in the healthcare trade to obtain an inside scoop on the newest offerings from organizations  working to facilitate green hospital construction. Green hospital construction faces specific challenges such as 24 hour energy loads, excessive amounts of chemicals and contaminated wastes, and fragile inhabitants. Healthcare facility owners, designers and contractors also have the additional  legal challenges of complying with strict regulations that ensure the safety of their buildings. In California, OSHPD is the agency overseeing all hospital construction, adding yet another hurdle to building healthcare facilities.

Other speakers at the forum included members from The Green Guide for Healthcare (GGHC)  the USGBC, and the The Global Health and Safety Initiative (GHSI). Each of the speakers  explained how their organizations products and services will assist in creating healthy and green healthcare facilities. GGHC is a voluntary self-certifying system that has been available free on-line since its inception in 2003. GGHC launched a comprehensive certifying system, version 2.2 in January 2007, and the operations section of the toolkit was recently updated in 2008. The GGHC is similar to the LEED products and is based on a point based system where each credit includes an intent, referenced standard, suggested documentation, and potential technologies and strategies. It also includes a section with input by a doctor identifying the health impact of each credit.

The GGHC and the USGBC have had an amicable relationship, and currently, they have been collaborating to create LEED for healthcare, a new LEED product specifically aimed at green health care facility design and construction.  LEED for Healthcare is undergoing a second public comment period, but will likely be released in late fall 2009. 

Lastly, a representative from the GHSI spoke about their organization which is a collaboration of groups and hospitals who’s goal is to promote healthy environments for healthcare facilities. Launched in California in October, 2007, the GHSI seeks to bring together everyone working within the healthcare sector and provide a resource for these organizations and groups. By working in collaboration they aim to transform and green the way that healthcare designs, builds and operates its facilities and products within those facilities by education, outreach and it even providing concrete assistance such as listing product choices on its website.

These organizations are optimistic that their resources will  make it an easier choice for healthcare designers and builders to build healthy facilities. And judging from the strongly positive audience response at the breakfast forum, this is just the beginning of this emerging field. Stay tuned to the California Green Building Blog for further reporting on this exciting topic.

 

June 8, 2009

Green Building Summit And Green Business Awards This Thursday

Posted by Steve Sacks under Awards / Competitions, Conferences / Conventions, Editor's Note, Finance, Innovators, Research | Tags: , , , , , , |
Leave a Comment 

There are two great events in the Bay Area on Thursday, June 11!  Greentech Media and SRI International are hosting a very compelling Green Building Summit in Menlo Park, and the San Francisco Business Times announces their 2009 Bay Area Green Business Award Winners at a dinner/reception at the San Francisco Hilton.

The Green Building Summit is an all day event with a cocktail/networking reception in the evening.  The topics and speakers look top notch and are focused on emerging businesses and research.  There will be plenty to gain from topics including, new business models, new materials, financing/stimulus, and business strategy.  Also, there will be a chance to meet with representatives from the 2009 Clean Tech Open finalists.  Click here for more information.

As the topic suggests, the San Francisco Business Times event promises to be light on substance, and heavy on fun.  It will be a networking schmoozefest and a wonderful evening to catch up with colleagues, or make new business connections in a festive atmosphere.  Click here for more information. 

Look for our own Sarah Grilli at the Business Times event.  Sarah just passed the LEED AP exam, so make sure to extend congratulations when you see her.  Way to go, Sarah!

 

Next Page »