HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 192-07City of Palo Alto
City Manager’s Report
14
TO:HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL
FROM:CITY MANAGER DEPARTMENT: UTILITIES
DATE:APRIL 16, 2007 CMR:192:07
SUBJECT:DONATION OF GOODS TO ACTERRA TO SUPPORT THEIR
"GREEN@HOME" PILOT PROGRAM
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that Council approve the donation of the following materials to Acterra, a
Palo Alto community-based non-profit organization:
a) up to 1,350 compact fluorescent light lamps (CFLs), with a cost not to exceed $3,000;
and,
b) printed and copied written materials about energy and water efficiency, and greenhouse
gas reduction, with a production cost not to exceed $1,500:
DISCUSSION ’
To contribute to achieving the goals outlined by Palo Alto’s "Green Ribbon Task Force on
Climate Change," Acterra has developed a residential-based pilot program called
"Green@Home" to help Palo Alto residents combat global warming by reducing their energy
use. haitially targeting two neighborhoods, Acterra will train teams of volunteers to visit
residents in their homes, perform several simple energy-saving measures, and go through a
checklist of further energy conservation actions. Green@Home volunteers will also encourage
residents to participate in City of Palo Alto Utility programs, such as Smart Energy and Palo
AltoGreen. Acterra will distribute the energy-saving lamps and consumer education material to
City of Palo Alto Utilities residential customers through its "Green@Home" pilot program from
April through August 2007.
The Green@Home se~ices will be offered to Palo Alto residents at no cost. The project will
utilize research-proven techniques of social marketing, such as pre-publicity, customer
commitment, measurable results and incentives. Acterra will also incorporate an ongoing
CMR:192:07 Page 1 of 3
partnership with the local neighborhood associations to provide a support network and public
recognition for residents completing their cfiecklists.
At the end of a four-month pilot period, Acterra will compile data on various metrics, such as
participation rate and estimated reductions in CO2 emissions. Feedback from volunteers
regarding the effectiveness of their efforts will also be gathered and used to develop a larger,
city-wide program if the project is deemed successful.,
Staff feels that the Green@Home program, while a pilot program, could be a very efficient and
effective way to distribute information and products which promote customer resource efficiency
and the Utilities’ residential energy mad water programs. Using trained local volunteers,
Green@Home will capitalize on the local strength .of the global warming movement and use that
momentum to promote the goals of the City and Utilities Department at minimal cost. Acterra’s
"Green@Home" program to distribute the light bulbs and encourage further energy-saving
practices by CPAU residential customers is consistent with "Climate Protection," one of the City
Council’s "Top 4" priorities for 2007.
RESOURCE IMPACT
The donated goods will cost up to, but not exceed, $4,500 fiona the Fiscal 2006-07 budgets of the
Electric Public Benefits Program and the Natural Gas Demand-side Managelnent Program.
This one-time donation of material does not imply that any ful-the~" City contributions will be
made to Acterra for "Green@Home" or any other program in the future.
POLICY II~IPLICATIONS
This report does not suggest a change in City policies, but supports the following:
Council "Top 4" priorities
1. Climate Protection
Comprehensive Plan
1. Goal N-9: A Clean, efficiency, competitively priced energy supply that makes use of
cost-effective renewable resource;
2.Policy N-47: Optimize energy conservation and efficiency in new and existing
residences, businesses and industries in Palo Alto;
3.Program N-63: Implement energy efficiency programs; and
4.Program N-64: Encourage continuation of public education programs addressing
energy conservation and efficiency.
Several recommendations of the Mayor’s Green Ribbon Task Force on Climate Protection, and
in particular:
1."Educate mad motivate all segments of the Palo Alto Community to take quantifiable
action to reduce carbon emissions"; and
CMR: 192:07 Page 2 of 3
"Acterra Cool Homes program to install compact fluoresce~t lights (CFLs), low flow
shower heads, programmable thermostats, water heater blankets, clothes lines, adjust
water heater temperature, and other energy efficiency measures."
ATTACHMENT
A: Progn’am description of Acterra Global Warming Action Project: Green@Home
PREPARED BY:
DEPARTMENT APPROVAL:
CITY MANAGER APPROVAL:
BRUCE LESCH
Key Account Representative, Utilities
VALER IE O,~ONG
Direc~9~ ~filities
City Manager
CMR:192:07 Page 3 of 3
ATTACHMENT A
Acterra Global Warming Action Project:
Green@Home
Dec. 6, 2006
Goals of the Project:
¯Assist Palo Alto residents in taking action to combat global warming
¯Create a community spirit of urgency and effective action in response to climate change
¯Make measurable reductions in Palo Alto’s CO2 emissions
¯Create a model program that can be replicated elsewhere
Summary:
To contribute to the goals outlined by Palo Alto’s Green Ribbon Task Force on Climate Change, Acterra
is planning a residential-based program - Green@Home - to help Palo Alto residents (initially in two
pilot neighborhoods) to combat global warming by reducing their energy use. Acterra will train teams of
volunteers to visit residents in their homes, performing several simple energy-saving measures and
going through a checklist of further energy conservation actions. Green@Home volunteers will also
encourage residents to sign up for Palo Alto Green. The Green@Home services will be offered to Palo
Alto residents at no cost, and supplies such as compact fluorescent light bulbs, faucet flow restrictors
and programmable thermostats will be donated or offered at wholesale cost. The project will utilize
research-proven techniques of social marketing, such as pre-publicity, commitment, measurable results
and incentives, and it will incorporate an on-going partnership with the local neighborhood associations
to provide a support network and public recognition for residents completing their checklists. At the end
of a four-month pilot period, Acterra will compile data on various metrics, such as participation rate and
estimated reductions in CO2 emissions. Feedback from volunteers regarding the effectiveness of their
efforts will also be gathered and used to develop a larger, city-wide program if the project is successful.
Need for This Project:
The scientific consensus about the threat of global warming is essentially unanimous, and the
implications are serious for California’s climate and the Sierra snowpack which is the source of water in
Peninsula communities. Embodying the concerns of the Palo Alto community about the threat of global
warming, in spring 2006 Palo Alto Mayor Judy Kleinberg founded the Green Ribbon Task Force
(GRTF) on climate change with the goal to create a city-wide action plan for addressing this problem.
As a participant in the GRTF - and a group that has considerable citizen expertise in the area of energy
efficiency and conservation - Acterra is available to work with Palo Alto residents to help reduce their
energy usage and thus their CO2 emissions.
In addition, to meet the targets of the City’s Renewable Portfolio Standards, the City of Palo Alto
has a goal to increase residential participation in the Palo Alto Green program. This program will
specifically address this goal by encouraging residents to sign up for PA Green.
Finally, Palo Alto residents want to make a difference. Acterra found evidence of this in a
meeting that we held in the last week of August 2006, when 78 people unexpectedly showed up (we
expected about 30!) for a community meeting to brainstorm ways that citizens could get involved. A
recent lecture by Stanford professor Jon K_rosnick (Sustainable Silicon Valley seminar, October 25,
2006) underscores this point. He outlined polling data that showed the major obstacle to effective
national action on climate change is that people need to believe that their actions can have an impact on
this problem. By giving people an opportunity to make changes in their own homes - and having people
see that their neighbors are also involved - Acterra will impart a sense of empowerment and encourage
people to further actions in their workplaces, their schools, other community settings - and in the policy
CPAU, Acterra Green@Home Proposal, 12/6/06, page 2
Measurable Outcomes:
By June 30, 2007, Acterra volunteers will have contacted at least 2,000 homes, met with at least 500
residents, performed 450 energy-saving house calls, and paired 400 people with neighborhood peer
support. We will also develop metrics to estimate collectively how many kWHours of electricity, tons
of CO2 emissions and energy costs Palo Alto residents have saved by participating in Green@Home.
Activities:
1) Upon receipt of funding, Acterra will hire a part-time Volunteer Coordinator to recruit, train and
coordinate Green@Home volunteers. Most of the work of this project will be accomplished through
volunteers, recruited for specific, manageable tasks, including:
Materials research
Materials preparation
Publicity
Flyer distribution
Schedulers
House call teams
Neighborhood support networks
2) Based on planning now underway, two initial teams of three Green@Home volunteers will carry out
"beta tests" in the homes of two volunteers, performing at least five of the eight energy-saving measures
listed on the attached list of Green@Home energy-saving House Call Actions [DRAFT]. During the
house calls, Green@Home volunteers will also go over an energy-saving Checklist [included in attached
DRAFT] with the resident, helping to determine which of the items the resident will commit to
complete.
3) Based on experiences during these beta tests, the Green@Home House Call Actions and Checklist
will be finalized and copies printed for use in the pilot neighborhoods.
4) Volunteer recruitment will start in December 2006 and proceed through a training to be scheduled in
late January 2007. Acterra will recruit Green@Home volunteers through a list of 78 community
members specifically interested in working on global warming, via Acterra’s 2,500-person e-mail list,
neighborhood association e-mail messages, newsletters and community meetings, as well as general
newspaper publicity and word-of-mouth. If possible, Aeterra will announce volunteer opportunities
in the CPAU community notice section of utility bills during January 2007.
5) Volunteer training will be specific to the task each person agrees todo, and potential volunteers will
be screened for their appropriateness in carrying out the various volunteer roles. In addition to this task-
specific training, each volunteer will be asked to sign a commitment to appropriate appearance, arriving
at scheduled times, following safety guidelines, and respecting the wishes of residents. Volunteers will
also be given identifying tee shirts. Although the House Call volunteers are not expected to be experts,
Acterra will also provide additional training about global warming and energy conservation techniques.
6) Volunteers will also be trained to encourage residents to sign up for Palo Alto Green, and they will
distribute PA Green sign-up forms when making House Calls.
Page 2
CPAU, Acterra Green@Home Proposal, 12/6/06, page 3
7) Volunteer schedulers and House Call teams will meet regularly for sharing of experiences and
feedback so that they can learn from each other. Ideas from these meetings will be collected for
evaluation of the pilot program.
8) Acterra will establish a Green@Home sign-up page on its website, so that residents in the two pilot
neighborhoods can immediately sign up for a House Call visit. Volunteers will also be able to sign up
for a training via the Acterra website.
9) Starting in February 2007, Acterra will announce the upcoming Green@Home program to residents
in the two pilot neighborhoods, Barron Park and Midtown. Acterra will meet with staff at the Palo Alto
Weekl2£ and Palo Alto Daily News to discuss publicity opportunities and seek media coverage for our
volunteer recruitment efforts. E-mail notices will be sent out by the two neighborhood associations, as
well as through Acterra’s own bi-monthly e-mailed Eco-Calendar.
10) To publicize and kick-off the program, in February Acterra will also schedule a house call at the
home of the incoming Palo Alto mayor, and we will ask the media to cover this event.
11) During this initial publicity blitz, Acterra volunteers, including high school students, will distribute
flyers door-to-door in the two neighborhoods, alerting residents to the project and inviting them to sign
up fora Green@Home House Call.
12) Within two weeks of distributing the flyers on doorsteps, other Acterra volunteers will canvass the
neighborhood, ringing doorbells to talk with residents about scheduling House Calls.
13) During each House Call, the Green@Home team will assist the resident in carrying out the seven
energy-saving Actions, go over the conservation Checklist to determine the next steps the resident will
commit to accomplishing, and explain how participating in Palo Alto Green will reduce CO2 emissions.
14) To create more likelihood that Checklist tasks are completed, residents will be invited to connect
with their neighbors in a local support network. Neighbors can thus help each other complete their
remaining tasks, such as moving refrigerators to clean the coils, installing more CFLs or
weatherstripping, etc.
15) In addition, if desired, during the House Call residents will be taught to read their electricity and gas
meters. Everyone will be given an attractive booklet for recording their reductions in energy usage and
their lowered CO2 emissions.
16) If suppliers can be found, the Green@Home team will also offer additional CFLs for sale, and offer
discount coupons for further energy saving services such as bicycle tune-ups, weather stripping, water
heater wrapping and other home energy-saving services.
17) In April, Acterra will make a presentation at both of the neighborhood associations about the
progress of the program to date, recognizing those who have participated and encouraging others to get
involved.
18) Residents who have participated in a Green@Home House Call will also be asked if they would like
to hold an "open house" for others on their block, to show the changes that have been made and further
publicize the opportunity for others to participate in a House Call.
Page 3
19) Regular e-mail messages will be sent to participants, encouraging them to complete their Checklists.
Those who do so will be recognized in e-mails sent to the whole neighborhood by the local association.
20) Participating households will also be offered an attractive window decal or lawn sign to signify their
involvement and encourage others to "get on the bandwagon."
21) In early June, Acterra volunteers will make follow-up contacts (phone and/or e-mail) to all
participants, asking for feedback about the program’s success, and for data regarding how much energy
- and thus CO2 - each household has saved.
22) Data from the follow-up survey will be compiled into a report for the City of Palo Alto Utilities staff
and information disseminated to .the neighborhood association and to the local media.
Program Evaluation:
At the end of this initial pilot project, Acterra will evaluate the effectiveness of the program according to
the following measurable results:
a) Number of people participating
¯volunteers
¯homeowners
¯group members
b) KwHours, Pounds CO2 and Money Saved
¯overall by this project (per week/per month)
¯on average, based on the number of House Calls performed
Based upon the results, Acterra will then decide whether to expand the program into additional Palo
Alto neighborhoods.
Timeline
[]Partner agreements and fund-raising - November & Dec. 2006
[]Hire staff- As soon as funds raised
[]Materials preparation-November & December 2006
[]Volunteer recruitment- December & January
¯Volunteer training - January 2007
[]Initial PR and neighborhood flyer distribution and scheduling - February 2007
[]House calls begin - March 1, 2007 - May 30, 2007
[]Data collection and evaluation - June 2007
[]Pilot project completed - June 30, 2007
Fundin~ Needs
[]Materials development (writing & graphics)
[]Materials printing
¯Volunteer training
[]Volunteer recruitment & coordination - staff person needed
[]Website integration - a place to sign up on the website for a Cool Team house call
[]Supplies - CFL’s for resale, programmable thermostats
[]Equipment - car tire gauges and pumps (one set per team)
[]Give aways: pens - or tire gauges - with Acterra logo?
CPAU, Acterra Green@Home Proposal, 12/6/06, page 5
Budget - Expenses
Volunteer Coordinator, 50% time, starting Jan. 1 for 6 mos @ $25/hr.
Employee benefits at 20%
Acterra Associate Director, 50% time, 9 mos (Oct 06 - June 07)
Employee benefits at 20% ................................
Graphic Designer, contractor at $40/hour for 200 hours
Web Designer, contactor at $40/hour for 25 hours
Publicity Expenses
Banner for community visibility
Flyers (6,000 copies @ $.07)
Volunteer Training
Food
Tee shirts @$12 each x 50
House Call printed materials
Printing of audit checklist
Record keeping booklet for homeowner
Brochures re: global warming
House Call Supplies
Compact fluorescent bulbs (3 x 450 x $2 each)
Programmable thermostats (450 x $25)
PA Green Sign-up Materials
Tire gauges (giveaways) (450 x $2)
Acterra logo pens (giveaways) (450 x $.25)
cash
13,000
2,600
8,000
1,000
400
500
600
2,700
11,250
900
110
in-kind support from."
21,270 Acterra
4,250 Acterra
420 CPAU ?
CPAU ?
CPAU ?
EDF
CPAU bulk purchase?
CPAU bulk purchase?
3 Phases?
House Call Equipment
Tire gauges - 2
Tire pumping equipment - 2
70
200
Recognition Materials
Home window decals for residents $2 x 450
Colorful lawn signs $5 x 450
Subtotals
900
2,250
44,480
Acterra overhead costs @ 10% of program costs
Overhead costs for Associate Director @10%
Total expenses
4,448
51,480
77, 000
(w/out Assoc. Dir.)
(with Assoc Dir.)
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