HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 200-10TO:
FROM:
DATE:
SUBJECT:
HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL
CITY MANAGER DEP AR'fMENT: City Manager's Office
APRIL 19,2010 CMR: 200:10
Update on City Sustainability and Environmental Initiatives
Including a Report from the Community Environmental
Action Partnership (CEAP)
This is an information report on ongoing environmental initiatives and no Council action
is rcquired. Thc following report updates infonnation brought to Council on April 27,
2009 (CMR217:09).
DISCUSSION
COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION PARTNERSHIP
The Community Environmental Action Partnership (CEAP),s annual report is attached to
this document (Sec Attachment A). More information on CEAP's plans, meetings and
discussions is available at www.pa-ceap.org.
CLIMATE PROTECTION PLAN
Staff will present a separate report on progress on Climate Protection Plan Update on
April 19,2010.
GREEN BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION & DEMOLITION DEBRIS
PROGRAM
Staff will present a separate report on progress on Green Building and the Construction &
Demolition Program on April 19,2010.
GREEN PROCUREMENT
Green Procurement, also known as Environmentally Pre felTed Purchasing, is the purchase
of products or services that have a reduced impact on human health and the environment
when compared with competing products or services that serve the same purpose. Staff has
completed its three-year workplan for greening several City products, services and
CMR: 200:10 Page I ofl6
operations. In March 2010, the City of Palo Alto's Green Purchasing Program received the
Green California Summit and Exposition Award for Leadership in Green Purchasing.
Highlights of accomplishments include green specifications for:
• Fluorescent lights to require low-mercury and highest efficiency lamps
• Out-of-house printing to include reduced packaging, 100% post-consumer
recycled content paper for utility bill inserts. The pdnter (Prodigy Press) is also
required to prompt departments to consider recycled-content paper before each
print job and must become certified as a green Printshop through the Santa
Clara County Green Business Program.
• Pest control and landscape maintenance contract requirements to reduce the
toxicity of pest control and move towards organic fertilizers and "Bay Friendly"
landscape maintenance techniques. In-house efforts to purchasc less-toxic pest
control products have also yielded excellent results and are reported on in a
separate city manager report.
• Copiers and printers purchased by the City are required to arrive preset for
duplexing.
• Computers and monitors must be EPEA T Gold Certified (Elcctronic Product
Environmental Assessment Tool). EPEAT is a third-party organization that
certifies laptops, monitors and desktop computers based on reduced toxicity,
product longevity, energy conservation, performance, and standards for end-of
life management for products and packaging including no oversea disposal of
electronic waste.
Increased responsibility placed on manufacturers and contractors for the
elimination or take-back of non-recyclable packaging, hazardous waste and
"universal wastes" (e.g., fluoreseent lights, e1eetronics, ete.).
• Green Business Certification: A statement in several contracts states the City's
preferenee to work willl Bay Area Green Business Certified companies, or
companies that are en route to completed certification. This requirement will be
added as new contracts and purchasc orders are issued.
Green Purchasing also includes greening operations to make the best product decisions and
to minimize waste and related costs. Efforts to green purchasing operations include a
successful 2009 pilot project offered by the Utilities Department to provide life cycle
costing workshops for City staff and Utilities large commercial customers. Utilities will
continue to offer one or two workshops each year.
As bids for contracts are returned, inaividual divisions will need to evaluate the balanee
of price, performanee and environmentallhuman benefits in deciding whether to pay any
increased prices for improved products and services. In some cases price changes may be
neutral or may decrease through product use efficiencies.
FY 2010 goals include furthering requirements for packaging and product producer
responsibility, continuing to add preferences for vendors to be certified as a Santa Clara
County Green Business, increasing requirements for vendor reporting, and greening
three-five contracts and goods each year.
CMR: 200:10 Page 2 of 16
OPEN SPACE
Foothills Fire Management Plan.
On May 18, 2009 Palo Alto City Council adopted a Mitigated Negative Declaration and
the Foothills Fire Management Plan. This plan is an update to the 1982 and 1997
Foothill Fire Management Plans. The revised plans include fuel treatment strategies for
specifically identified sensitive areas within Foothills Park, Pearson Arastradero Preserve
and segments of Skyline Boulevard, Page Mill, Arastradero and Los Traneos Road. In
addition the Plan includes law enforcement (evacuation, notification/warning [CANS],
Block Preparedness Coordinator Program), open space operations (Ranger staff), Utilities
(water supply and related infrastructure), Public Works, and other areas. The plans
recommend that staff develop a Foothills Emergency Plan and that thc City support the
formation of a Midpeninsula Foothills Emergency Forum (MFEF), similar to that created
in the East Bay following the Oakland Hills Fire of 1991.
The objectives of the plan are:
• Life Safety
• Structure and Infrastructure Protection
• Ignition Prevention
• Fire Containment
Funding is needed for implementation of any new work under the plan. The city is
eurrently seeking grants for implementation and for formation of the Midpeninsula
Foothills Emergency Forum.
Baylands Conservation Plan.
Due to the City's budget shortfall, the completion of the Baylands Conservation Plan is
on hold for at least the next year. The first chapter, which considers the vegetation of the
Baylands tidal areas, has been completed by a consultant and reviewed by staff. The
chapters on hold were to analyze public access and wildlife habitat at the Baylands. The
cost of this consulting work, bid at $50,000 for the next phase, was eliminated from the
Open Space operating budget in the mid-year budget adjustments (CMR:145:09). This
project was chosen for postponement in order to be able to continue vital resource
management projects.
In order to continue the development of the eomprehensive plan, staff is exploring
completion of these chapters as student thesis projects using students from Stanford
University or San Jose State University.
PALO ALTO DOWNTOWN FARMSHOP
On March 31't, the Palo Alto downtown FarmSho~ re-launched at Lytton Plaza following
a unanimous approval of eouncil on March 1St , 2010 of a revised FarmShop Plan.
(CMR: 160: 1 0) Staff has hired a volunteer FarmShop Markct Manager replacing a paid
position. The intent of this program was to provide local, organic produce for the
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community and City employees, which is in line with the City's overall goal of
sustainability. The FarmShop also has a related CSA program managed by Capay Valley
Growers which also provides the opportunity for the community to connect with farmers
and with the process of local food production, enabling a better understanding of the
many benefits of organic, healthy food.
SUSTAINABLE URBAN FOREST PROGRAM
The Urban Forest Management Plan was funded by Proposition 84 bond fund grant,
which was for $66,000. The project lead is Gloria Humble. City projects under this plan
are:
1. Street Tree Inventory Grant $120,000 -Eric Krebs, Project Lead
Street Tree Inventory, Data Integration and Analysis Contract No. Cl 0135076 was
fully executed on March 15 2010. This is a major component to the Street Tree
Management Plan. This fundamental task is underway and will result in a product
that can be integrated into the City's existing tree database and GIS. The project
completion datc is June 30,2011.
When completed the tree inventory will provide aecurate baseline information about
the City's tree resources which will, in turn, influence subsequent tasks related to the
Street Tree Management Plan a major component to the Urban Forest Master Plan. It
will also influence PW ITree Seetion's tree maintenance procedures. Currently PW
contracts area pruning to satisfy due diligence for the City's tree care. The inventory
will identify work needed by priority. One of the anticipated results will be the
redirection of our work priorities and procedures. The Public Works plan is to use in
house and contract crews to catch-up on these priorities prior to returning to area
pruning. We will know more when the inventory and analysis is completed on June
30,2010.
2. Tree Speeies Database:
This is another fundamental task that is also underway. A subcommittee of the Urban
Forest Master Plan team has done considerable work on a tree species database. The
team comprises ISA certified arborists Eric Krebs, Steve Scott, Gino Segna and Dave
Dockter from the City of Palo Alto and ISA certified arborists Dave Muffly, Roy
Leggitt and Sharon Kelly from Canopy. A volunteer database consultant has built and
outline database that allows team participants to enter values for more than 40
carefully defined attributes per species onlinc. This database will be initially hosted
on the Canopy website as the new "Tree Library" accessible to the pUblic. From the
database a number of pre-selected recommended lists will be built, such as: drought
tolerant trees (a priority), trees appropriate under power line, etc.
The scope of this project is unprecedented and when completed will provide an
accessible database pertaining specifically to the conditions in Palo Alto and
capturing the field knowledge oflocal professionals with decades of experience.
Page
3. Block Side Species Replacement List:
Public Works staff is working on a list of acceptable replacement species for each
block of the City. The list is designed to assign trees for replanting when public trees
are removed and replaced.
When completed this task will be an invaluable tool for the procedures section of the
Street Tree Management Plan.
4. Updated Tree-Removal Process:
Public Works Operations Division revised the procedures for removing public trees
as related to street tree maintenance. Per Council direction, Staff is working c10sel y
with Canopy and various Cily'departments to create a public notification process for
tree removals and/or replacements. This new process will cover designated trees,
protected trees, and City-owned street trees which are impacted by activities from
Capital Improvement Projects, Utility projects, and private development. A draft of
this process will be presented to Council this summer.
5. Procedures
The following three Procedures subcomponents are in progress:
a Development Related Public Tree Removal
Public Works Engineering is working with Planning and Public Works on a
tree removal procedure for removing public trees relating to CIP, private
development and Parks renovations.
b Solar Panel Permitting Process:
Dave Dockter has established a protocol for reviewing existing trees as part of
the permitting process for solar panels to ensure that installations don't
conflict with protected tress.
C Greenhouse Gas Reduction:
Dave Dockter, Debra van Duynhoven, the City's Sustainability Coordinator,
and staff from the Utilities Department have met with representatives from
pertinent federal agencies and are working to facilitate the City's adoption of
the Urban Forest protocol for reducing greenhouse gasses that was recently
approved by the Air Resource Board.
The following two procedures subcomponents have been identified but are not yet
underway. .
a. Update of the Tree Technical Manual
The document will be updated to include inter-departmental coordination
policies and procedures that are being developed.
b. Comprehensive Plan Update
The City is in the process of updating its Comprehensive Plan and staff
recognized the need to integrate the urban forest master plan in the
Comprehensive plan.
Additional Tasks
CMR: 16
The City has also identified tasks that were not included in the original outline for the
master plan.
c. Global Climate Change
This priority is already reflected in the B1ock-by-B1ock list of tree species
recommendations and willtmdoubtedly affect other decisions and tasks
related to the mastcr plans as Palo Alto begins the process of transitioning
from a thirsty forest to a forest adapted to the climate and water accessibility
conditions we may face in the next 30-50 years.
d. Recycled Water Program
They City's program to supply recycled water to commercial customers for
irrigating large-scale landscape installations is being reviewed to resolve
issues related to the salinity of the water. This topic may be integrated into the
master plan.
TRANSPORTATION
The overall goal of green transportation-related programs is to reduce the greenhouse gas
emissions generated by City employees commuting to and from work as well as those
generated by travel during the work day using City vehicles.
Staff initiatives since April 2009 include:
• Employee commute survey: More than 500 city employees participated in
the second web-based commute survey in April 2009, which showed that 73%
of employees drove alone, 10% carpooled, 7% took public transit, 3% came
by bike and 2% came in a vanpool. Average rotmd trip commute distance
from home to workplace was 39 miles. On average, employees spent 31
minutes getting to work and 37 minutes returning home in the evening. Of
particular interest was that more than 30% of solo drivers indicated that they
were willing to consider carpooling or taking transit, while 26% were willing
to try bicycling and 13% would consider participating in a vanpool.
• Encoura!!in2 alternative commutes: In May, the Palo Alto Staff Goes
Green campaign kicked off by asking employees to reduce their carbon
footprint by trying an alternative to driving solo once a week or finding
another employee to carpool to work with via a new City-specific link to the
511 Rideshare matching service. This generated a significant increase in
employees registered for the alternative commute program, but not to a
sustained increase in employees actually participating in the program each
month. '
• Changes to incentives for the employee alternative commute program:
Due to the City's budget challenges, a proposed increase to monthly
incentives for employees participating in the alternative commute program
was shelved in January. However, staff has identified opportunities to
CMR: 200:10 Page 6 of 16
improve the net benefits received by employees who commute .by transit,
vanpool or bike without increasing direct costs to the City. These changes
would take advantage of recent changes to federal tax law related to qualified
transportation fringe benefits, and also streamline the administration of the
program for both City staff and employees. In brief:
o Employees who regularly commute by bike will receive $20 per month
'tax free for qualified bicycle commute expenses (instead of receiving
this amount as a taxable addition to salary as has been the ease since
the City'S commute program began decades ago).
o The existing tax free benefits for transit and vanpool users will change
from a flat amount to a more equitable incentive equal to 25% of their
monthly costs for transit passes or individual shares of the vanpool
lease.
o For the first time, the City will offer a pre-tax salary reduction option
which will allow employees using transit or vanpool to pay for the
difference between the tax free monthly incentive and their qualified
commute expenses (up to $230 per month in 2010) with pre-tax
dollars. In most cases, this will mean that their net monthly commute
costs are reduced by an additional 26%. The City would also save an
estimated 1.45% of payroll taxes on the amounts shifted from taxable
income under this option.
Outsourcing the administration of this program to one of the leading providers
of commute benefits is needed to ensure compliance with IRS regulations and
will result in administrative savings for the City. The current system of paper
monthly forms will be replaced by use of the outside provider's secure
website (available 2417 and easy to use). Employees will also receive transit
passes or vanpool vouchers ordered via this website by mail in time for the
new month a significant increase in convenience for employees.
Additional transportation related activities that staff has initiated are:
• City Fleet -The Equipment Management Division of the Public Works
Department continues to aggressively but prudently pursue alternative
fuel/clean air vehicle strategies in procurement of new City vehicles,
particularly in market segments where these vehicles are available directly
from the vehicle manufacturer equipment is available, such as passenger
vehicles and light trucks. 'The City's emphasis continues to be primarily on
CNG-fueled vehicles, given the reduced carbon footprint, lower fuel cost, and
operational advantages provided by virtue of the City gas utility. Additionally,
public access to CNG fueling on a contract basis will become available in the
summer of 20 I 0 at the City Municipal Service Center when construction of
the new fueling facility is completed.
• EV parking spots Staff has received $12,000 in grant funding from the Bay
Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) for a pilot program to
install 6 EV charging stations at City Hall. Although staff is waiting funding
-:::-C~;:;:;:~--~---.... ---.... -.--... --------.---:::---=--:o-
CMR: 200:10 Page 7 ofl6
from California Energy Commission (CEC) to be able to complete tile project.
The City of Palo Alto partnered with Association of Bay Area Governments
(ABAG) to apply for tile CEC fnnding in conjunction with the Bay Area EV
Corridor Project. Complete project costs were estimated to be $39,220, of
which approximately 1I3 rd was applied for to CEC, 1I3rd will be covered by
BAAQMD and the remainder to be in-kind services by the city and its staff.
The project will not proceed unless CEC fUnding will be received.
• Zipcar -Staff has been working with Stanford to have 2 parking spots
dedicated for Zipcars. Stanford approached staff as there was a desire by the
students to have the ability to use a Zipcar from the Caltrain Station. The city
manages and sclls permits to lot X, which is behind the Sheraton. Recently
the city has not sold out of permits for this lot, so it was determined that it
would be a good use of resources to dedicate 2 parking spot for Zipcars.
Although this arrangement is under the Stanford agreement with Zipcar, any
Zipcar member can use tilese cars and Staff will be receiving usage data,
which will help in determining and future car-share installations.
• Bike Share -Stafr launched a city employee Bike Share program with the
bikes that were used at the Senior Games last summer. The program includes
approximately 40 bikes distributed thorough out all city facilities. The
program launched in November with a bike rally with about 30 participants
including tile Mayor and the City Manager.
UTILITIES RENEWABLE ENERGY SUPPLY
Electric supply from renewable resources reached 19% during 2009, up from 17% tile
prior year, and is expected to reach 21 % by year 2012. Due to the high competition for
renewable resource supply, the progress in meeting the City'S short term renewable
electric supply goals has lagged behind Council goals. Staff has been striving to meet the
long term renewable energy supply goal of 33% by 2015 a11ead of the rush by the rest of
tile state trying to reach the same target in 2020. However, staff will return to the
Utilities Advisory Commission in August 2010 and to the Council in the fall of2010 to
re-examine appropriate renewables target percentages, target timing and allowable rate
impact.
UTILITIES CONSERVATION-RELATED PROGRAMS
Renewable, efficiency, and conservation activities in tile City of Palo Alto Utilities
(CP AU) Department as of thc end of Fiscal Year 2008-2009 werc reported to the City
Council in an infoffilational memo on January 11, 2010. An update to program
achievements during the first half of Fiscal Year 2009-2010 is below:
Renewable Energy ProgramS
PaloAltoGreen
As of tile end of the calendar year in December 2009, PaloAltoGreen had 6, II 0 members
or just over a 21.4% participation rate. Participation continues its slow trend upward.
-.... ---~ .. ---~ .... ---~ ~---.-.-.. --..... -... ~-~ ..... ~~~
CMR: 200: 10 Page 8 ofl6
Solar Water Heating Program
The rebate program to provide rebates for residential and commercial solar water heating
systems has paid out 18 rebates through the end of December 2009 for a total of just
under $22,000.
Solar Pbotovoltaic (PV Partners) Program
The PV Partners Rebate Program continues to increase numbers of customers with
installed PV systems in Palo Alto. Program involvement in shown in the table below. As
can be seen, the program continues to exceed annual goals and is 28% toward the 10 year
state (SB 1) goal for installations.
PreSBI Program
Year Application Count kW Rebate Paid
1999 4 16 $ 93,008
2000 6 16 $ 83,383
2001 27 100 $ 391,714
2002 22 73 $ 168,506
2003 16 40 $ 113,377
2004 17 45 $ 173,982
2005 20 74 $ 223,356
PreSBI Subtotal 165 574 $ 1,796,397
SBI Program
Year Application Count kW Rebate Paid
2007 77 213 $ 627,398
2008 85 1,347 $ 2,059,317
270 $ 663,725 2009 ,=40~====~~~=.;;;;;;=~~
SB I Subtotal 202
SRI Goal N.A.
% of SBI Goal N.A.
Grand TOTAL 367
pending 48
IG-;:;;.Jio/;!. __ I_----'I_" ____ 415.
Residential and Commercial Efficiency Programs
Water Conservation
1,831
6,500
28%
2,404
1,243
3,647
$ 3,350,439
$ 13,000,000
26%
$ 5,146,836
$ 2,268,659.00
$ 7,415,495
Water conservation programs through the Santa Clara Valley Water District (SCVWD)
continue to be productive. In the fiscal year through December 31, 2009, the following
rebates and/or water audits were completed:
,-... -----------.... ----.--~-----,
PROGRAM 711109 to 12131109
CMR: 200: 1 0 Page of 16
Single Family Completed
Multi-Family completed
Program Expenditures $
Water
Residential
: Small Commercial
• Program Expenditures $ (grant funded)
Warer
Single Family
Program Expenditures $
• Water
Irrigation Audits Performed
Program Expenditures $
Water
: Commercial II HET
Multi-Family HET installations
Program Expenditures $
Water
Total Commercial Washers Installed
Program Expenditures $
Total Commercial Industrial Inst. Audits
Program Expenditures $
Program Expenditures $
Water
Number of Landscape Retrofits
Expenditures $
feet nft",flh,,," \
\,',' ,
198
6
13,980
816
o
2
200
110
8,250
13
8,450
I
16
8
5,400
10
1,750
428
184
6,900
14
14,000
3
112
The City cost sharing with SCVWD on the timely Landscape Rebate Program (aka, 'cash
for grass') is offered for replacing irrigated turf grass (lawn) with low-water using plants
CMR: 200:10 Page 10 of 16
and/or penneable area. Palo Alto residents can receive a rebate of $1.50 pcr sq. ft. with a
maximum of $3000, with commercial area incentives as well.
Staff presented the new state Water Efficiency Landscape Ordinance and a draft Palo
Alto specific version to the UAC in January 2010 and to a variety of community groups
in January and February. Based on input received, the City will remain under the
statewide Ordinance until the statewide Green Building Code (Cal Green) goes into effect
in 2011, at which time many of the efficiency measures will be included in the building
code. The Planning Department is coordinating a city-wide teanl to work on this update
and will present it to City Council in mid-201O.
The Residential and Business New Construction Rebates
The rebate progfanls for both Residential and Business New Construction Programs have
been developed and are being promoted to customers. One rebate under eaeh program
(for a total of two) has been paid. In the queue are three residential, three multifamily
and one commercial rebate.
Residential Energy Efficiency Programs
A summary of residential energy efficiency programs is listed below:
July 1, 2009 through February 12,2010
Measure Units Amount kWh Saved Therms
Est. Est.
Attic Insulation R-30 32 $4,650.00 12,075 4,297
Attic Insulation R-38 7 $\,400.00 2,686 965
Boiler 9 $3,000.00 1,800
Cent! A C SEER 14 $200.00 339
Cent! A C SEER 15 5 $900.00 2,085
Clothes Washer Tier 2 30 $1,015.00 4,410 510
Clothes Washer Tier 3 241 $18,075.00 40,488 4,579
Dishwasher 36 $1,700.00 1,584 144
Dishwasher -CBB Tier I 9 $270.00 297
Dishwasher -CEE Tier 2 106 $5,250.00 4,240
Flat Roof Insulation -RI9 3 $450.00 510 267
Gas Furnace 50 $10,800.00 4,200
LED Holiday Lights 731 $0.00 17,544
Pool Pump 5 $1,000.00 7,000
REAP -Attic Access Install 2 $200.00
REAP -Attic Insulation (units sq. ft.) 4,420 $0.00 1,238 663
REAP -Caulking MFR Windows etc. 24 $1,267.68 46 24
REAP -CFL Replacement 215 $2,150.00 15,050
REAP -Door Weather-Stripping 37 $2,279.20 111 148
REAP -Faucet Aerator 87 $513.30 261
REAP -Hardwire Interior Lights 108 $6,971.40 12,096
REAP -Hardwire Porch Light 9 $580.95 1,962
REAP -Low Flow Showerhead 41 $1,408.76 287
REAP -1'8 Delamp Conversion 'II $4,004.00 50,214
Refrigerator 168 $9,950.00 14,1l2
..... _-----...... __ ...
CMR:200:1O Page II of16
Refrigerator Recycling 95
Tankless Water Heater 13
Wall Insulation 15
Water Heater-Electric 2
Water Heater-Gas Tier 0 7
Water Heater-Gas Tier 2 9
Totals 6,608
Smart Energy
$3,325.00
$2,850.00
$2,600.00
$80.00
$240.00
$1,500.00
$88,630.29
184,870
1,690
1,335 1,335
358
374,649
119
675
21,963
The Smart Energy Program continues to be well received by customers with 1,430
rebates having been paid fiscal year 2009-2010 through December 31, 2009. LED
Holiday lights were distributed in exchange for old incandescent light bulb strings to 731
residents in December 2009. Clothes washers (271) and refrigerators (168) have the
largest number of rebate applications in the program.
Residential Refrigerator Recycling Program
The recycling program implementer (JACO) is currently a partner of the EPA
Responsible ApplianCe Disposal Program (RAD). The program picked up and recycled
95 running refrigerators and freezers during in the first half ofFY 2010.
Low Income Program (REAP)
The Residential Energy Assistance Program (REAP) provides efficiency upgrades and
equipment replacement for low income residents. Residents receive new lighting, get
weatherizing installations, and can have refrigerators and furnaees repaired and/or
replaced. The third party contractor worked in 60 homes, 45 at California Park
Apartments and 15 single family residents, between July 1,2009 and February 2010. A
total of 423 lights have been upgraded, and 4,420 square feet of insulation was added to
these homes.
Adena Green@Home Energy Audit
Aeterra's Green@Home energy audit program is in place. During the period July I, 2009
to December 31, 2009, 41 House Calls (including 55 Compact Fluorescent Light
giveaways) were completed for Palo Alto residents. Since the program began in August,
2008, a total of 141 House Calls have been completed in Palo Alto. Acterra was closed
for the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, so the volnnteers were not conducting
House Calls during those times. Out of the total 41 Palo Alto House Calls made since the
beginning of the fiscal year, 35 residents have been successfully contacted by phone
afterwards for a program review.
Acterra is continually improving processes and database. Here are some of the areas
where they have made major changes:
• Based on focus group results, Green@Home changed the data worksheets used by
the volunteers to make them easier to use and more instructive.
• The Checklist given to residents was modified to combine both habits and
upgrades in the appropriate section (e.g. lighting, heating and cooling, kitchen,
and so on). The items were also sorted by cost of implementing that energy saving
change. A cover letter was added to the front of the checklist to help explain what
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CMR: 200:10 Page 12 of 16
was in the report. An additional sheet was added to better record post House Call
recommendations for the resident.
• The C02 reports sent to residents soon after the House Call now include a
reminder of the commitments that the resident agreed to.
• During this period, Green@Home set up an online registration process for
residents to apply for a House Call through Aeterra's website.
Street Lighting Pilot Project
Phase One of the LEDlInduetion streetlight pilot project has been completed. For the
pilot, seven Light Emitting Diode (LED) and three induction streetlight fixtures were
installcd on the residential streets of Colorado and Amarillo Avenues in the first week of
July 2009. Additionally, two LED and two induction fixtures equipped with
communication hardware that allows remote monitoring and dimming were installed
outside City Hall.
Measurement results from the pilot project show that LED fixtures produce light output
that are more uniform than that of existing High Pressure Sodium (HPS) and induction
fixtures. LED fixtures also have much better cut-off on the curbside of the streetlight
fixture, resulting in significantly reduced light trespass over residents' property.
The pilot also demonstrates that the LED fixtures offer higher energy savings than
induction fixtures based on similar light output. The combined energy and maintenance
savings from LED luminaires results in favorable economics for LED. The simple
payback for replacing a 70 watt (nominal) HPS with an LED luminaire with output
illuminance comparable to that of the HPS luminaire is around 12 years. As LED
technology continues to improve and luminaire cost decrease over time, one can expect
the economics of LED streetlights to continue tc improve. By comparison, the simple
payback for induction fixtures is around 17 years.
Community feedback shows that LEDs are generally preferred over HPS and induction
streetlights. The biggest drawback of the LED fixtures tested in the pilot is the color of
the light output. Compared to the yellowish glow of the HPS streetlights, the light output
from LEDs tested appears too bluish white. The LED luminaires tested in the
demonstration have a correlated color temperature (CCT) of 6,000 Kelvin (a very bluish
light); by comparison, the CCT was 5,000 Kelvin (bright white) and 2,100 Kelvin
(similar to an incandescent light in color) for the induction and HPS streetlights
respectively.
The remote monitoring/dimming system performed as anticipated. However, based on
the current cost of the technology, it is not economical tc deploy the remote
monitoring/dimming system with LED fixtures. For the pilot scenario of retrofitting a
150 watt HPS with an LED fixture, deploying a remote monitoring system with a daily
schedule of dimming the fixture by 25% for five hours, increases the simple payback by
over three years.
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CMR: 200:10 Page 13 of 16
The LEDllnduction Streetlight Pilot Project final report is expected to be jointly issued
with the Department of Energy in April. Engineering is currently planning to test
additional LED fixtures with lower color temperatures for light that appears less bluish.
Based on the result of this Phase 2 pilot testing, the Utilities Engineering Division will
develop a set of specifications for LED streetlight fixtures and will issue an RFP for LED
fixtures funded by the DOE's Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant.
Electric Efficiency Financing for Businesses Program
On August 3, 2009, Council approved the recommendation that a financing program for
small business customers to install electric efficiency items would be implemented by a
third party program consultant. The UAC recommended to Council that this program be
funded from the Calaveras Reserve and Council approved this on December 7, 2009. A
Request for Proposals was sent out in January 2010. Responses from three potential
vendors were received in March 20 I 0 and arc currently being evaluated.
Third Party Efficiency Programs for Businesses
During the fiscal year, third party programs to help business customers were expanded.
The Right Lights+ program for smaller customers was expanded beyond lighting to
include a wide variety of efficiency measures for commercial kitchens. COlmcil
approved additional funds for this contract on December 14, 2010. The first rebate was
just issued under the contract with National Resource Management. A new program for
large customers to implement natural gas and electric equipment (Commercial and
Industrial Energy Efficiency Program) was implemented with Enovity. Fifteen
customers have signcd preliminary agrcements and have completed investigations.
Key lmd Major Accounts
The Utility Marketing Services staff is working to develop a marketing and
communication erunpaign for smaller businesses to help them become more involved in
efficiency efforts. The first postcard to small businesses was sent in early December
2009. A mailing to restaurants was sent in November 2009 and again in January 2010.
Key Account customers responded very positively to the information they received from
representatives during the day-long outage on February 17,2010. An email survey was
sent to Key Accounts in the week after the outage, and nearly all customers said that they
were well informed by their representatives. Utility Marketing Services is changing
processes to ensure that those few customers who did not receive sufficient.information
will do so in any future events.
Progrllm Delivery and Reporting
Third Party Measurement and Verification
State law requires an independent evaluation of efficiency and conservation programs
each year. The second annual report was completed in mid-March 2010 and was
delivered to the Northern California Power Agency for informational purposes and for
inclusion in a statewide publicly owned utility report to the California Energy
CMR: 200:10 Page 14 16
Commission (CEC). An informational report detailing the results of the study were sent
to the Utilities Advisory Commission (UAC) in April 2010.
Utility Efficiency and Conservation Reporting
Updated information report on annual energy efficiency results is completed and was
provided to the UAC and City Conncil in January 2010. Results were delivered to the
CEC, as required by law, in March 20 10. A copy of this report, including a summary of
Palo Alto's evaluation report for FY 2008-2009 (delivered to the UAC in April 2010) and
efficiency results for the same time period (delivered to the UAC in January 2010) are all
available to download at http://www.cityofpaloalto.orgldepts/utl/residential/default.asp
ZERO WASTE
Staff will present a separate report on progress on Climate Protection on April 19,20 I O.
RESOURCE IMPACT
Most of the programs discussed in this report are funded in the adopted 2009-10 budget.
In cases where staff work on the above and related programs will require additional
funding, staff will request the needed funds via the upcoming budget approval process.
POLICY IMPLICATIONS
All of the above programs are in line with the City'S Sustainability Policy, Council's
adoption of the Climate Protection Plan, and other existing City policies.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
This report is informational in nature. As such, no review of the report is required under
the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). However, certain activities and
programmatic elements discussed in the report may undergo or have already undergone
environmental review as part of a separate approval process.
PREPARED BY: DAREN ANDERSON
KATHY DURHAM
DAVE DOCKTER
LESTER HODGINS
JOYCE KINNEAR
TOM KABAT
KEITH LAHAIE
KRISTIN P ARINEH
JULIE WEISS
DEBRA VAN DUYNHOVEN
CITY MANAGER APPROVAL: ---;T"~~~~
CMR: Page 15 of16
City Manager
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment A: Community Environmental A('iion Partnership,2009 Annual Report
I
CMR: 200:10 Page 16ofl6
Attachment )l
2009 ANNUAL REPORT
(March 5, 2009 thru February 28 th , 2010)
Neighborhoods
Businesses Faith Community
City Government Stanford
Schools Nonproflts
Medical
CEAP
The City of Palo Alto and community groups came together in 2008 to create the
Community Environmental Action Partnership (CEAP). dedicated to improving
the collaboration on important environmental issues. In particular. CEAP was
created to help the community reach the goals in the 2007 Palo Alto Climate
Protection Plan.
In our inaugural meeting on March 5th, 2008. community members
collaboratively defined CEAP's mission and goals.
CEAP Mission:
To bring the various segments of our community together to share knowledge,
build mutual understanding, leverage resources, and both create and implement
innovative environmental solutions.
Goals:
• Identify and implement top-priority environmental initiatives with
measurable objectives.
• Educate and engage each segment of the community in environmental
initiatives that fit their needs.
• Create a vehicle for communication, education and awareness among the
City and all segments of the community.
• Leverage resources and actions among segments by aligning and
coordinating efforts.
• Connect with expertise. input and initiatives from the community and
beyond to inform, improve and inspire innovative ideas and programs.
• Track and report progress toward objectives 10 the community.
2009 CEAP Annual Report
2
page
\ '
,
,
Organization
The community is divided into eight "Segments (see below), and a "liaison" is
appointed to each. The Liaisons, which serve as an Executive Committee, meet
monthly, but the goal is to have much of the work done by the Segments.
The Segments and Liaisons areas follows:
Segment
Neighborhoods
Faith Community
Schools
Business
Medical Community
Government
Stanford
Non-Profit Organizations
2009 CEAP Annual Report
3
Liaison
Lisa Altieri
Ben Hammett
Walt Hays
Mark Sabin
Krisanne Hanson
Wendy Hediger
Lucy Wicks
Jose Gordon
page
SUMMARY OF EXCOM ACTIONS:
Date Action
April Carroll Harrington produced a display of CEAP activities, which was
posted for several weeks in the hall leading to Council Chambers.
June Nico Procos, Senior resource manager, PA utilities, and Josh Wallace,
Key Account Rep, PA Utilities, presented a program on the use of
water in California and the importance of conserving it.
Highlights:
• The Hetch-Hetchy system serves 2.5 million people, and that number is increaSing.
The system is old and vulnerable to a severe earthquake, which could halt water
supply for 30 days or more. Repair will cost $4.4 billion, but earthquake damage to
the current system could cost $17-30 billion. The repairs will increase the cost of
water 2-3 times.
• The distribution and treatment of water in CA constitutes 19% of our total electricity
use and 30% of gas, as well as 88 billion gallons of diesel/year.
• The effects of climate change will include 25% less snowpack, with resulting floods
in winter and drought in summer, salt intrusion in the Delta, and negative impacts on
fish through warming water.
• For all the above reasons, it is important to save water, and the presentation gave
examples of whaUo do, including eating less meat; e.g., it takes 1,232 gallons of
water to produce one steak.
July
October
Mayor Peter Drekmeier presented a program on the Tuolumne River
as the source of the City's water, noting that Palo Alto, with its big
g<lrdens <lnd I<lwns, used more w<lter per c<lpita than every other city in
the Hetch-Hetchy system except a few with even bigger gardens, like
Los Altos Hills.
Participated in an internation<ll campaign todramatize the number 350,
as representing the maximum parts per million of C02 the atmosphere
can hold without severe consequences, putting on three events:
• Recruiting 10 local congregations to ring their bells 35 times at 11
A.M. on 10/24 .
• Bringing a fire engine to the downtown farmer's market, inviting
children to ring its bell, and passing out flyers.
November Decided to join with Menlo Park and other cities in promoting the
Drive Less Challenge, a web-based friendly competition that rewards
2009 CEAP Annual Report page 4
/'"f '
January
March
participants for reducing their car miles, as an Earth-Day related
activity.
Held a session on Strategic Planning,with the following results:
• Accepted Debra van Duynhoven as Vice-Chair, replacing Bryan
Long .
• Decided to invite speakers to the CEAP Excom meetings periodically,
but limit large public meetings on one/year.
Heard a presentation by Valerie Gardner, recognized as a "Climate
. Hero" by Acterra, for her work on the GreenSTART Program in
Atherton, which engaged large numbers of parents and students in
reducing emissions.
Held a public meeting to hear former Mayor Peter Drekmeier speak on
"Adapting to Climate Change." Approximately 80 people attended.
Accomplishments
Detailed reports from each Segment are attached. Here are some highlights.
Schools
• Solar: We're finally getting PV on the SRC (a subject that's been on the
Sustainable Schools agenda for two years)l Translation: Photovoltaics on the
Science Resource Center. There will also be a solar interactive display to go along
with it. The District is also exploring installing PV on all schools, through a Power
Purchase Agreement, under which investors would pay for installation and sell the
energy to the District as 5% less than current City rates.
• Conferences: The Sustainable Schools Committee held conferences for green
teams to share best practices and learn what each school has accomplished.
• District-wide recycling/composting: Thanks to Palo Alto's Zero Waste department,
Greenwaste, and PAUSD, we now have a district-wide recycling program for the
schOOls. After a successful pilot program at three schools, recycling and composting
are now being implemented district-wide.
Neighborhoods
• Launched green teams in Barron Park and College Terrace. They hope to continue
launching the program in two or more neighborhoods each year. Projects: Low
Carbon Diet Class, Weatherization Projects, Garden Sharing, etc. The segment
also organized two 350.org events on Oct 24 and Dec 11.
Business
Wave One has been working with businesses in a 43-block area of downtown Palo
Alto to help them get certified under Santa Clara County's Green Business
Certification Program. They use Right Lights for energy audits and Green Waste to
educate employees on composting and recycling.
The Next Step (Wave Two) will help businesses shift to Energy Star appliances,
2009 CEAP Annual Report page 5
HVAC, and lighting. They also hope to implement real-time metering and water
conservation.
Government
Palo Alto Staff Goes Green, a 6-month awareness campaign, was their major effort.
152 employees participated.
• First month: Transportation
• Second month: Zero Waste
• Third month: Energy reduction
• Fourth month: Water efficiency
One example, PASGG conducted a reusable mug campaign using peer pressure,
signage, etc. They also sent out a monthly green tip via email. The group conducted
surveys to see if the staff made habit changes.
Faith Groups
The Faith Segment is a sub-group of the California Interfaith Power and Light South
BayWorking Group of congregations that have signed a covenant to assume a
stewardship role, a spiritual commitment and responsibility, to educate and engage
the congregations in environmental initiatives. Toward this effort, the Palo Alto
member congregations of the South Bay Working Group have each engaged to a
varying degree in the following actions prescribed by the Covenant:
• Action 1 Conduct an enl?rgy audit
• Action 2 Engage in an ongoing process of education
• Action 3 Analyze, reduce, and offset our greenhouse gas emissions,
• Action 4 Safeguard public health,
• Action 5 Protect the earth's ecosystems,
• Action 6 Promotion of energy conservation, energy efficiency, renewable
energy, and
• Action 7 Support public policies that contribute to our goals.
There were 10 teams or task forces: 1) Clergy Education -quarterly luncheon, with
a speaker, 2) Getting Started -providing materials, guides and referrals to help
congregations organize for action, 3) Renewable energy and energy efficiency, 4)
Water,"5) Waste reduction and reCYCling, 6) Political actionllobbying, 7)
Sustainable food, 8) Transportation, 9) Take action on Earth Day, and 10)
Outreach and Philosophy. Each month, meetings were held with a different
congregation as host and included a guest speaker on one of the above actions. In
addition, various churches and synagogues hosted weekend conferences and
interfaith retreats, and held many speaker events on their own, such as climate
change science and the methodologies of alternative energy and energy
conservation. Some examples of the many and varied individual ~ongregational
actions listed in the attached Faith Segment report included the following: Joint
programs with Acterra in Eco-Task Forces, Cool Campaigns, and the formation of
Green Teams, plus bther campaigns and pledges to lower carbon footprints; sent
lobby groups to Sacramento for the clean water bill, wrote legislators supporting the
energy bill, took part in 350.org C02 reduction worldwide project, and converted to
2009 CEAP Annual Report page6
energy efficient lighting and appliances, the use of recyclable materials in
congregational buildings and offices, and other actions listed in the attached Faith
Segment report.
Medical
Liaison Kris Hanson is working with a subcommittee of Walt Hays, Dr. Cindy Russell
(chair of the Santa Clara County Medical Association's Environment committee) and
Maria Biggs, a volunteer from Acterra's "Be The Change" Program, to plan a •
conference for doctors and their office managers on how to go green.
Stanford
Stanford has been making a substantial effort to green up many aspects of the
campus and campus life. You can visit the Sustainable Stanford website
(http://sustainablestanford.stanford.edu) to see the incredible diversity of efforts in
energy, water, transportation, research, waste, purchasing, etc.
In the last survey of colleges and universities, the College Sustainability Report Card
(www.greenreportcard.org) awarded Stanford an A-for its significant achievements
and the University was listed as one of the top 10 sustainable schools. One
highlight: Stanford Dining now sources 40 percent offood items locally. A
Sustainable Working Group composed of 90 students, faculty, and staff are working
in teams on focused topic areas of sustain ability. The teams meet monthly. One
significant accomplishment in 2009 was the publication of Stanford University's long
term Energy and Climate Plan.
(http://sustainablestanford.stanford.edu/climate action)
2009 CEAP Annual Report page 7
Introduction
CEAP Annual Report 2009
Neighborhoods Segment
April 2010
The Neighborhood segment of the Community Environmental Action Partnership (CEAP) was formed
to educate and engage thc members of our segment in environmental initiatives. Towards this effort, the
Neighborhoods segment has worked on the following actions over the last year, since CEAP's inception
in March 2008:
1) Green Teams in Palo Alto Neighborhoods! In order to address the environmental challcnges we
face, like Global Warming, it will require action and lifestyle changes for all of us. These types
of changes are fostered by communication and support among neighbors. So the primary project
of the Neighborhoods Segment is to launch Green Teams in Palo Alto Neighborhoods to begin to
create dialog, awareness and support in the community for positive environmental change.
2) Palo Alto Neighborhood Action Events: We have also worked on creating events for the Whole
City that focus on raising awareness and taking action on Global Warming.
1) Green Teams!
We have launched two Green Teams in the last year, BatTon Park and College Ten'ace. We had our first
Green Team launch in BatTon Park in early 2009. The Barron Park Green Team is going great and
accomplished a number of projects in 2009:
• Developing the group goals and mission
• Taking the Low Carbon Diet class and lowering our carbon footprint
• An infrared imaging demonstration
• A weatherization party where participants learned how to lower their carbon footprint and
weatherize their homes through caulking, weather stripping and other simple low cost
methods.
• A talk on Global Warming policy, specifically Cap and Trade Policy and the Waxman
Markey Bill
• Start of a Garden Survey proj ect to find interest and connect neighbors for garden sharing,
educational activities, etc.
In October 2009 we launched our second Green Team in College Terrace and it is also going great! We
have a group of very enthusiastic members with many ideas on great projects for the team. They are
currently going through the Low Carbon Diet together and have many great projects planned for 2010.
2) Palo Alto Neighborhood Action Events:
The BatTon Park Green Team and the CEAP Neighborhoods Group co-sponsored two citywide events
with 350.org, where we joined others from around the world and gathered to send a message to our
leaders that it is time to pass strong legislation addressing Global Warming. The two events were:
• October 24 th , at the Gunn High football field where we spelled out the number 350
• December 11 th , in front of City Hall where we marchet:\ to deliver a letter to our
Congresswoman, Anna Eshoo to urge strong action on Global Warming policy,
For both of these events we posted photos of our group on the 350.org website where they were included
with photos from around the world and delivered to decision makers at the Copenhagen Conference.
Future Plans
Weare planning to launch a new Green Team in Midtown in Spring 2010, We are also working on
setting up a website to help the Green Teams organize and provide information on reducing carbon
footprint to the neighborhoods. For Citywide events, we are planning to keep in contaet with 350,org
and join in to future 350 events,
The Barron Park and College Terrace Green Teams also have great plans for the upcoming year:
The Barron Park Green Team has a number of projects planned for 2010:
• A Green Home Tour
• Speaker Events
• Weatherization Parties
• Low Carbon Diet Classes
• A Neighborhood Tree Planting
• Complete our Garden Survey Project
The College Terrace Green Team projects for 2010 include:
• Project to provide a cooperative purchase pro gram for solar to the College Terrace
neighborhood
• Weatherization parties and workshops
• Low Carbon Diet classes
• Booths at Neighborhood Events
• Eco-habit of the Month
• Working to get more organic food at 11 &F Grocery store
Submitted by Lisa Altieri, CEAP Neighborhoods Segment Liaison
CEAP Annual Report 2009
Faith Segment Summary Report
Introduction
The Faiths segment of the Palo Alto Community Environmental Action Partnership (PA-CEAP)
is the Palo Alto portion of the California Interfaith Power and Light South Bay Working Group
of the nationwide Interfaith Power and Light (Regeneration Project). The primary work of the
Working Group is accomplished by the Action Teams -small groups of people who self-select
based on the topics they desire to pursue:
I) Clergy Education quarterly luncheon with speaker and time for sharing questions, ideas,
encouragement. (The first luneh featured the founder of The Regeneration Project, Rev. Sally
Bingham.)
2) Getting Started (providing materials, guides and referrals to help congregations organize for
action).
3) Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency
4) Water
5) Waste Reduction and Recycling6) Political Action/Lobbying.
7) Sustainable Food
8) Transportation
9) Take Action on Earth Day.
10) Outreach and Philosophy
Each month, meetings were held with a different congregation as host and included a guest
speaker who focused upon on one of the above areas.
Discussions within the Working Group by way of a private membership Iistserve,
CIPL PenSBay@yahoogroups.com, have been governed by guidelines, such As: The purpose of
this group is to share ideas on how to deal with human-produced climate change.
The primary work of the Working Group is to educate and engage the members of our Palo Alto
Faiths Segment in environmental initiatives. Toward this effort, the member congregations of the
Faiths segment, implementing their Covenant with their nationwide organization: Interfaith
Power and Light (Regeneration Project, have conducted activities in varying selected
combinations from the seven areas of aetion listed in the Covenant. Exan1ples now follow for
each of these areas of action:
Action 1 Conduct an energy audit of our buildings, make energy efficiency improvements to our
congregation's buildings and utilize renewable energy.
The Unitarian Universalist Church of Palo Alto (UUCPA) conducted an energy audit,
interviewed solar companies to explore the feasibility of installing photovoltaic panels, installed
several energy saving furnaees and a dishwasher, replaced ineandescent bulbs with CFL's,
installed recycle bins, used recycled paper, recycled ink cartridges as a lucrative fundraiser, and
purchased Palo Alto Green electric power. The First United Methodist Church performed an
energy audit, replaced their old boilerlheaters with more efficient units, purchased Palo Alto
Green electricity, recycled ink cartridges, installed recycling and compost bins, declared itself a
Styrofoam Free Zone, purchased recyclable or compostable food service items, purchased Fair
Trade coffee, replaced lights throughout the church and education buildings with CFL and lower
energy bulbs, reduced the number of garbage collections each week, and purchased a copy
maehine that prints on both sides of paper.
Action 2 Engage in an ongoing process of education with our congregants concerning
environmental steward,hip, energy production and usage in relation to global warming.
The Palo Alto Society of Friends, Earthlight, Acterra, and the CIPL SBWG sponsored an
interfaith weekend retreat on Care for Creation, Walking Lightly on the Earth.
The First Congregational Church of Palo Alto formed The ECO Task Force which focuses on
raising awareness among the eongregation and wider community ofth ever important
stewardship and care of the environment, and led a campaign with Acterra to unify the church
community in a fight against global warming. The Congregational Cool Campaign was
developed as a six-month campaign to educate the congregation about ways to reduce energy use
and took monthly surveys about their activities. The Unitarian Universalist Church of Palo
Alto sponsored a talk on accelerating the transition to Smart Energy. The church maintains an
extensive Green Sanctuary library collection, with a strong focus on climate change.
Congregation Kol Emeth sponsored an evening presentation on Solar Power Financing and
Ethical Banking. Although located in Los Gatos, Shir Hadash hosted the Feb. 23, 2009 regular
monthly meeting of the CIPL SBWG and many folks from Palo Alto congregations attended.
The Topics included Earth Day planning (April 22) and Energy Efficiency. The First United
Methodist Church publishes a Green column in their monthly newsletter reminding members of
the congregation of ways to be self-aware of their impact on the earth and on ways to conserve
and to reduce pollution. The Women's Group at Congregation Etz Chayim of Palo Alto hosted
an event "Health Begins atHome!" which addressed Green Living and the advantages of going
green on building, remodeling and toxins, The Oshman Family JCC in Palo Alto (OFJCC)
hosted an event: "Holiday Gifts Go Green!" which presented alternatives to gift buying,
Action 3 Analyze, reduce. and offset our greenhouse gas emissions with the goal of becoming a
. nonpolluting congregation.
The First Presbyterian Church, in partnership with Acterm, wrapped up a Cool Campaign. It
was very successful with most households in the congregation signing a pledge to lower their
carbon footprint over a period of 6 months. Etz Chayim hosted a CIPL South Bay Working
Group meeting on Transportation. The First Presbyterian Church of Palo Alto, Cool Planet
Working Group, participated in a Christmas Fair with gifts and suggestions for a "Sustainable"
Christmas. At the Unitarian Universalist Church of Palo Alto the congregation posts leaves
on tree, each leaf pledging an action that specifies with it a numerical carbon footprint reduction
action. Their total carbon dioxide reduced since October 24th is 73,000 pounds.
Action 4 Saftguard public health.
The Unitarian Universalist Church of Palo Alto and CIPL-SBWG Water Team hosted a
presentation on Water Justice and the Human Right to Water Bill of Assemblyman Ira Ruskin.
Members of the church accompanied the UU Legislative Ministry Climate Change/Water Justice
Team's trip to the CA Legislature to lobby in committee sessions and in legislators offices in
favor of Ruskin Bill.
Action 5 Protect the earth's ecosystems.
The Unitarian Universalist Church of Palo Alto Green Sanctuary Committee and CIPL·
SBWG Team #4-Water hosted a presentation on saving the Tuolumne River ecosystem by Peter
Drekmeier, Mayor of Palo Alto. The national United Methodist Church has many Resolutions
regarding the protection of earth's resources, and is seeking tc implement these Resolutions
through education, and through outreach programs.
Action 6 Promotion of energy conservation, energy efficiency, renewable energy and ensure
sufficient, sustainable energy for all.
The First Presbyterian Church of Palo Alto provided letter writing tables to encourage people
to write to their legislators to support the energy bill.
The First Congregational Church held an Interfaith Clergy Climate Luncheon for
clergy/religious leaders of all faiths on Climate Change Science and the Role of Clergy and
resources for clergy for: addressing the spiritual and practical sides of climate change, scope and
urgency of the climate crisis, how to address the spiritual and humanitarian challenges of a planet
in peril, and presented doable actions that clergy can integrate into their work, including tools for
lay-led green teams. The Unitarian Universalist Church of Palo Alto Green Sanctuary
Committee provided a table at a retirement home's Community Day, for a demonstration of
UUCP A Green Sanctuary actions. The First United Methodist Church congregation has
wholeheartedly supported the new eomposting program available through the city.
Action 7 Support public policies that contribute to our goals.
Seven Palo Alto congregations supported the worldwide 350.org movement On October 24th by
ringing their bells 35 times: St. Thomas Aquinas (Catholic), St, Albert the Great (Catholic),
All Saints (Episcopal), Unity Palo Alto, Unitarian Universalist, Grace Lutheran, and First
Lutheran. The Unitarian Universalist Church of Palo Alto posted a banner advoeating
worldwide atroospheric C02 reduction to 350 ppm and announcing that UUCPA would Ring its
Bell 35 Times. The church advocated in behalf of mitigating the Impact of global warming on
native peoples and raised public and congressional awareness of the serious erosional effects of
climate change on Alaskan barrier island villages. Petitions from the church, including letters
. from the Sunday school children, advocated to Congress for legislation including adaptation
funds to help the village move to the mainland. The trip to the village by a representative from
the Palo Alto chureh was written up, including photos from several years of UUCPA Sunday
school watertub simulations of the plight of the villagers. The write-up is posted on an
Anchorage website:
http://www.alaskaconservationsolutiims.comJacs/images!stories/docs/SavingShishmaref.pdf·
Introduction
CEAP Annual Report 2009
School Segment
April 2010
The School Segment of the Community Environmental Action Partnership (CEAP,
pronounced "keep"), formed in 2008, was formed to educate and engage the members of
our segment in environmental initiatives. Toward this end, working through the
Sustainable Schools Committee, formed in 2003, we have taken the following actions
~~~~ .
Action 1
With help from a consultant hired the City Public Works, formed "sustainable"
green teams in all schools in the PAUSD, plus several private schools.
Action 2
Held two conferences for green teams, with inspirational talks, sharing of activities, and
advice on rolling out food compo sting (see Action 3).
Action 3
Working with District staff, Wendy Hediger of Public Works, Zea Luce of Green waste,
and green team leaders from select schools, planned and organized the roll out of food
compo sting to all schools. Pilot schools achieved substantial savings in waste disposal.
Also met with District staff in charge of food ordering to encourage shift to healthier
foods where economically feasible and to eliminate non-recyclable containers.
Action 4
Worked with the PAUSD in contracting to install a photovoltaic (PV) system on the
Science Resource Center, together with an interactive solar display to demonstrate to
students how PV works. Also working with District on plans for PV at all schools.
Action 5
Worked with District staff, Canopy and select principals to plant more trees on two
campuses, and to draft a proposed Tree Policy calling for similar action at all schools.
Action 6
Worked with Acterra and District staff to develop a demonstration garden of drought
resistant plants, to explore the possibility of saving water by substituting such gardens for
lawns (in non playfield areas).
Action 7
Worked with the District and City Utilities to do water and energy audits and encourage
reduced usage.
Action 8
Persuaded District staff to begin monitoring use of electricity, gas and water at all schools
and to use that information to encourage reduced usage.
Action 9
Began work with District and Paly staff to explore rainwater recapture.
Future Plans
I: Continue semi-annual green team conferences to share activities.
2. Complete installation ofInteractive Solar Display.
3. Finalize plans and contracting for PV at all schools.
3. Persuade District Board to adopt and implement Tree Policy.
4. Complete demonstration garden and approach principals on switching from lawns.
5. Pursue all efforts to save funds by reducing resource use.
Introduction
CEAP Annual Report 2009
Business Segment
April 2010
The Wave One Palo Alto segment of the Community Environmental Action Partnership
(CEAP) was formed to educate and engage the members of our segment in environmental
initiatives. Toward this effort, the Wave Oile Palo Alto segment has worked on the
following actions over the last year, since CEAP's inception in March 2008:
• Action 1 Work with County of Santa Clara Certified Green Program to Green
CertiJy small business in Palo Alto.
• Action 2 Work with Right Lights to set up lighting efficiency audits for small and
medium sized business and use Right Lights to perform lighting retrofits to reduce .
energy consumption.
• Action 3 Work with City of Palo Alto and GreenWaste to educate business on how
to reduce, reuse and recycle to minimize waste sent to the landfill.
• Action 4 Create a database of structures and businesses within the 43 contiguous
blocks of Downtown Palo Alto
Action 1
Enrolled a total of 75 small Palo Alto Businesses in County Certified Green Business
program. This resulted in 18 businesses becoming fully Certified and 57 businesses in the.
process of completing certification.
Action 2
Worked with Right Lights to enroll 75 businesses in lighting efficiency audits. Eight
businesses wcre found not to need retrofits, 14 completed their retrofits and the remaining
53 are awaiting work or final approval by the business for retrofit work.
Action 3
Worked with The City of Palo Alto and GreenWaste to schedule meetings with 48
businesses to educate them on how to save money by reducing their waste-stream
through reduction, reuse and recycling.
Action 4
Created a database of the buildings, businesses and exterior lighting within the 43
contiguous blocks of downtown Palo Alto.
Future Plans
Wave One Palo Alto is a community based program that focuses on a consolidated group
of small businesses with the purpose of creating (I) market transformation for the
effective delivery of energy efficiency services to small businesses and (II) a Green Job
Training Center for Labor and Community College students.
I Small Business Conservation Research Center
In late 2008, the City joined with Wave One to form Wave One Palo Alto to implement
the goals and strategies for the retrofit of commercial sector buildings as set forth in the
September 2008 CPUC Strategic Plan for Energy Efficiency. To achieve these goals,
Wave One Center consolidates businesses within the 43 contiguous blocks of Downtown
Palo Alto (Downtown), consisting of 380 buildings totaling 3.5M+ sf, 1,050 small
businesses, 10,500 employees, armual taxable sales of $275,000,000 and more than
150,000 weekly visitors.
Wave One Palo Alto goals are consistent with and accelerate the CPUC Plan goals of
40% energy and water reduction by 2012, Zero Waste by 2015 and Net Zero Energy by
2020. By achieving these goalS in advance of CPUC Plan dates, Wave One Center
becomes a pioneer, demonstrating that CPUC Plan goals are achievable by small
businesses. Wave One Palo Alto will not only lead the way, it will publish its
methodologies and results in order to teach other small businesses. Wave One Palo Alto
is a scalable program that can be brought to any community or urban center.
Wave One Palo Alto accomplishes these outcomes by targeting 75% market penetration
equivalent to no fewer than 500 businesses oecupying 2.5M+ square feet in Downtown.
Wave One Palo Alto Constitutes the largest sampling of small businesses ever assembled
anywhere in the United States.
II Creating Quality Green Jobs as a Research and Training Center
Wave One Palo Alto works with Working Partoerships USA and San Benito County
Trade Council and has eommitted to hire only members of the construction trade council.
Wave One Palo Alto team members inclUde Local Union 332lnternational Brotherhood
of Electrical Workers, United Association of Plumbers and Stcamfitters & Refrigeration
Local 339. Wave One Palo Alto has an on-the-job paid intern program that will be
supervised as an academic program by the Kirsch Center for Environmental Studies at De
Anza Community College. Wave One Palo Alto will work with NOVA, a Santa Clara
County local workforce investment agency to assist with hiring new employees.
The purpose of Wave One Palo Alto is to create a market transformation within the most
crucial and most difficult to reach segment of the commercial sector -small businesses.
Wave One Palo Alto invests in and involves leaders from labor, education, community
colleges, media and communications, finance, government and construction.
Because Wave One Palo Alto is a training and research center determined to achieve a
market transformation for small businesses, Wave One Palo Alto has and will continue to
invest extensively in the one-on-onc contact with small businesses necessary to engage
and educate its employees.
CEAP Medical Community Annual Report
Membership includes:
• Stanford University Medical Center
• Palo Alto Medical Foundation
• And new introductions from the V A Medical Center
Activities include primary focus on:
Energy and Water Conservation
• SUMC received their baseline energy audit in partnership with the CPAU programs.
• Based on report, prioritizing projects for investment and conservation are underway.
• SUMC has joined the EPA Energy Star® program and completed the initial application
of baseline energy consumption data for benchmarking.
• SUMC received their baseline water use audit in partnership with SCVWD.
• Based on report, prioritizing projects for investment and conservation are underway.
Waste Reduction
• All three organizations have benefited from the resources, partnership and knowlcdge
derived from Grecnwaste' s customer support team.
• Greenwaste has been a key participant in several waste reduction projects underway at all
three organizations.
• Biodegradable serviceware has been integrated into operations at PAMF and SUMC. In
addition, compo sting programs will be applied in the Cafeteria settings at SUMC.
• Teams attended series of public comment opportunities related to Zero Waste ordinance.
Building Foundations
• Teams continue to focus on designing new buildings with LEED® and green building
ordinances at the forefront of the plalming process.
• SUMC has applied for participation in the Pilot Project of Green Guide for Healthcare's,
Greening Operations, v.2.0 rollout and are waiting confirmation.
Education and Outreach
• Teams continued to participate in regional education through Sustainable Silicon Valley
and the Northern California Chapter of H2E.
• SUMC has joined Practice Greenhealth, an organization dedicated to providing hospitals
with information, education and benchmarking resources for sustainable operations
improvements.
• SUMC has received their first award from Practice Greenhealth in the annual application
cycle with a "Partners for Change" award designation. A team will attend the annual
CleanMed Conference in May to receive the award.
• CEAP is co-sponsoring the planning and execution of an outreach conference to engage
and educate oWllers and managers of the small to medium-sized medical practice setting,
on improving sustainability in their operations. The conference is also co-sponsored by
Santa Clara County Medical Association (SCCMA) and SUMC. It will be held on June
1,2010, at Stanford University.
Introduction
CEAP 2009 Annual Report
Government Segment Report
The Government segment of the Community Environmental Action Partnership (CEAP)
was formed to educate and engage City of Palo Alto employees in environmental
initiatives. Toward this effort, the Government segment formed a Green Team, a forum
for employees interested in environmental protection to share ideas for improving the
organization's environmental performance and to create and implement projects that
make these improvements a reality. The Green Team worked on the following projects in
2009:
• Palo Alto Staff Goes Green
• Reusable Mug Campaign
• Monthly Green Tips
Palo Alto Staff Goes Green (PASGG)
A green awareness campaign, PASGG was a 6-month eampaign targeting all City staff. It
increased staff awareness about their environmental impact and encouraged action to
reduce it. The campaign focused on 4 themes: alternative transportation, Zero Waste,
energy and water. Participation was open to all City employees and 152 participated in
the campaign. Their combined efforts resulted in:
• 15 employees adjusting their irrigation schedules at home to reduce water
• 150 gallons of water being saved every day from employees taking shorter showers
• 47 employees attending local farmers markets
• 9 tons of carbon dioxide (C02) being reduced through alternative commutes
• 30 employees making significant energy use reductions including turning off lights
and computers daily, unplugging major equipment and reducing plug loads
• 191 employees gained a greater understanding of what waste can be composted,
recycled and reused at work
• 13,160 kwh were saved by employees changing out incandescent light bulbs with
compact f1uorescents (CFL's).
• 25 employees specifically stating that they plan to sustain their new behaviors after
the campaign
Reusable Mug
The Reusable Mug campaign is currently running and is intended to increase reusable
mug use by employees through the use of prompts. Various prompts such as signs at exits
and break areas, informational/reminder emails, signs in elevators and a loop notice have
been used to remind employees to bring their reusable mugs if they are going for
coffeeltea.
Monthly Green Tips
The monthly green tips project is ongoing awareness-raising and behavior-changing
effort. City employees are e-mailed tips each month to encourage them to green their
work areas and/or their personailives.
Future Plans
Plans for the coming year, include the following:
• Roll O\lt the Zero Waste New Services to all City facilities
• Landscaping irrigation upgrades work party
• Drive-less challenge
Prepared by Wendy Hediger, February 2010.
Introduction
CEAP Annual Report 2009
Stanford University Segment
Stanford University has been a member segment of the Palo Alto Community
Environmental Action Partnership (CEAP) since CEAP's inception in March 2008.
In pursuing its academic mission, Stanford University is committed to being a leader in
the research, teaching and institutional practice of environmental sustainability. The
. university is therefore committed to following core sustainability principles in all facets
of planning and operations so that Stanford CaB lessen its enviromnental impact, ensure a
healthy community and contribute to global solutions.
Structure of Sustainability and Energy Management (SEM)
Sustainahility is a core value at Stanford -demonstrated in academics, operations,
communications, and events. Central to the academic endeavor is the Initiative on the
Environment and Sustainability, supporting interdisciplinary research and tcaching in all
seven of Stanford's schools, as well as in centers, institutes and programs across campus.
Sustainability and Energy Management (SEM) I, is the operational and programmatic
undertaking in this field.
Founded in 2007, SEM brings together campus utilities, building operations, parking &
transportation, business services, and Office of Sustainability/sustainability programs
under one administrative roof in the greater operational department of Land Building and
Real Estate (LBRE). SEM leads sustainability initiatives in campus infrastructure and
programs in the areas of energy & climate, water, transportation, waste, green buildings
programs, sustainable information technology, and many more. This organization of over
90 professionals are programmatically convened and connected through the Office of
Sustainability, under the moniker Sustainable Stanford -a campus-wide initiative to
steer, connect, support and strcamline sustalnability efforts to fulfill President Hennessy's
belief that "Sustainability must become a core value in everything we do."
Sustainable Stanford is also the central coordination and strategic hub for the
interdisciplinary Sustainability Working Group convened in 2006 and the various
Sustainability Working Teams (SWTs) that formed in 2008.2 SWTs bring together
campus operations leaders, faculty with related subject matter expertise, and students to
advance progress in each of the major elements of Sustainable Stanford, including:
Energy & Atmosphere, Green Buildings, Transportation, Water, Waste Minimization,
Green Procurement and Food Supply, Communications & Campus Community
Relations, Evaluation & Reporting, and Green Funds for students. Complementary to
operational efficiency measures being undertaken by campus facilities managers, distinct
and education-oriented programmatic initiatives are underway to make sustainability
more actionable and visible to campus community. Major support for these efforts are
provided by various operational units within LBRE, University Communications,
Government and Community Relations, Woods Institute, Precourt Institute, Stanford
Recycling Center run by Peninsula Sanitary Services Inc, Residential and Dining
1< http://lbre.stanford.edu/sem/>
, < http://sustainable.stanford.edu/working grollP and teams>
Enterprises; School of Medicine; Graduate School of Business, School of Earth Sciences,
Alumni Association; and many others. Gur website is http://sustaimable.stanford.edu,
with quarterly newsletters at < http://sustainable.stanford.edulnewsletter.
2009 Sustainability Overview3
Stanford took a bold step in 2009 to tackle the threat of global climate change by
developing an ambitious, long-range, $250 million program to reduce its energy
consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
The new Energy and Climate Plan could reduce the campus carbon impact by as much as
20 percent below 1990 levels by 2020, far exceeding the goals of California's landmark
AB 32 Global Warming Solutions Act.
The Energy and Climate Plan is one among many accomplishments that place the
university among the nation's top colleges and universities in terms of sustainability
efforts. In 2009, the Sustainable Endowments Institute recognized Stanford among 26
colleges and universities for leadership in sustainability,
During 2009, the university also made significant progress in:
• Water conservation through development of a new recycled water treatment plant;
• Transportation-related emissions reductions to 1990 levels through the
Tnmsportation Demand Management program; and
• Energy-use reduction through retrofits to two Stauffer laboratory buildings,
The Energy and Climate Plan, in particular, will further Stanford's leadership position in
sustainability nationwide. While the initial phases of the plan rely on energy conservation
and changes to the campus heating and cooling scheme, even more greenhouse gas
reductions may be possible through the use of renewable electricity and other energy
management teehnologies still being explored,
The plan, one of the most ambitious at any major U.S. university, includes higher-than
required energy standards for new buildings, retrofitting of existing buildings,
transfonnation of the campus energy plant, and programs to teach the university
community how to reduce energy use.
A team of faculty and facilities experts, headed by Joseph Stagner, executive director of
sustainability and energy management, worked on the plan for two years. After studying
campus energy use, they discovered that over half the university'S heating demands could
be met with heat that is already being removed from buildings by the campus cooling
system. Such a reuse of energy would cut the amount of natural gas burned for heating
purposes and thereby reduce energy costs, as well as emissions of greenhouse gases,
Specifically, campus cooling systems do their job by using chilled water to remove
unwanted heat from buildings. For years, that unwanted heat has been piped away from
the buildings in the form of warm water, only to be discharged into the air through
evaporative cooling towers at the central plant.
But Stagner and his team believe that 70 percent of that lost heat could be recovered and
3 Stanford University Annual Report http://annualreport.stanford.edu/sustainability.html
reused to heat buildings. Such a system is possible where campus buildings are being
cooled and heated at the same time-a common occurrence given Stanford's temperate
climate.
Capturing and distributing the heat will require construction across campus. Most
buildings are now healed by steam; for the new system to work, the steam will be
replaced with hot water, requiring the replaeement of underground pipes over the next 10
years or so.
The project also will bring changes to the university power grid. Stanford's Cardinal
Cogeneration plant, which burns natural gas both to create steam heat and generate
electricity for the campus, will shut down in a few years. Instead, electricity will be
purchased from PG&E or, if state regulators allow, other providers.
Other Actions
The attached "Year in Review" highlights some of the other notable achievements of
Sustainable Stanford over last year. To see the full description of these actions, please see
the attached document covering the past academic year, or visit
<http://sustainable.stanford.edulsites/sem.stanford.edulfiles/documents/Stanford year In
review. pdf>.
Future Plans and Ongoing Actions
The Sustainability Working Group and Working Teams will continue to develop and
implement actions key toereating a sustainable campus. OUf website
(http://sustainablestanford.stanford.edul) continues to be the best resource for up to date
actions and results.
Stanford, through the Office of Government and Community Relations will continue to
participate as a segment of the Community Environmental Action Partnership. We arc
committed to continuing to reach beyond our campus borders to support actions aimed at
creating a healthy environment for all.
For further information on the wide range of activities related to Stanford University's
commitment to sustainability please visit http://sustainablestanford.stanford.edul.
For more information on Stanford's role as a segment of the Palo Alto Community
Environment Action Partoership (CEAP), please contact Lucy Wicks, Assistant Director
of Community Relations, Office of Government and Community Relations, at
Iwicks@stanford.eduor650-725-3339.
Introduction
CEAP Annual Report 2009
Nonprofit Segment
April 2010
The Nonprofit segment of the Community Environmental Action Partnership (CEAP)
was formed to educate and engage the members of our segment in environmental
initiatives. Toward this effort, the Nonprofit segment has worked on the following actions
over the last year, since CEAP's inception in March 2008:
Action 1
In 2009, instated a new Nonprofit liaison
Action 2
Established a Nonprofit distribution list
Action 3
Explored ways in which Wave One and the Business Segment could partner with the
Nonprofit Segment.
Action 4
Established connection between the City of Palo Alto's environmental programs and
Rebuilding Together Peninsula's environment program.
Action 5
Worked with Abilities United, a local nonprofit, to encourage facilitating resource-saving
improvements through use of free audits and rebates (see attachment).
Future Plans
)-Continue to meet with Wave One
)-Identify and add agencies to distribution list
}> Identify resources to help nonprofits partieipate in environmental ehange
}> Encourage other nonprofits to take actions similar to Abilities United.