Best Practices
Energy generation is the second largest source of greenhouse gas emissions. Thus, strategies to conserve energy and use it more efficiently in agency operations and the community will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, energy efficiency and conservation measures will also save money and resources.
Energy Efficiency & Conservation Goals
- Energy conservation and efficiency in agency buildings and equipment.
- Reduce energy use for traffic signal and street lighting system.
- Outreach to business and residents to promote energy efficiency in the community.
The table below offers specific suggestions on how to achieve these goals. You can download the entire Best Practices Framework under Documents & Resources on the right side of this page.
| Energy Efficiency & Conservation |
| Goal |
Best Practice |
| Energy conservation and efficiency in agency buildings and equipment.
See also Green Building section for additional energy options.
|
Audit/evaluation
- Audit major agency buildings and facilities to quantify energy use and identify opportunities for energy savings through efficiency and conservation measures.
- Conduct retro-commissioning studies of major agency building HVAC and lighting systems.
- Benchmark energy use of major agency buildings.
Building retrofitting and retro-commissioning
- Develop an implementation schedule to implement no cost/low cost opportunities.
- Develop implementation plan for capital intensive energy retrofits.
- Develop implementation plan to achieve facility Energy Star rating of 60-75 or greater, where feasible.
- Implement retro-commissioning improvements as recommended in studies.
Operations/protocols
- Establish energy efficiency protocols for building custodial and cleaning services.
- Establish facility energy efficiency policy that provides employees with guidelines, instructions, and requirements for efficient use of the facility such as by turning lights and computers off, thermostat use, etc.
- Implement off-peak scheduling of pumps, motors and other energy intensive machinery where feasible.
- Incorporate energy management software or other methods to monitor energy use in agency buildings.
Standards/commissioning
- Develop commissioning and retro-commissioning standards for new and renovated buildings.
- Develop and implement shading requirements for agency and community parking lots, buildings and other facilities to reduce the urban heat island effect.
- Develop and implement a continuous commissioning plan.
- Integrate energy efficiency, conservation, solar and other renewable energy technologies into new agency facilities.
Work with energy provider
- Work with energy provider to access utility’s technical assistance and financial incentives.
|
| Reduce energy use for traffic signal and street lighting system. |
- Replace incandescent traffic and crosswalk lights with energy-efficient light-emitting diodes (LEDs).
- Replace incandescent and mercury vapor street and parking lot lights with energy efficient alternatives.
|
| Reduce energy use by businesses and residents. |
- Encourage community businesses to conduct energy audits.
- Work with energy provider to encourage commercial sector to install energy efficient exterior lighting that is appropriate for the location and use, considering security versus decorative lighting.
- Require energy audits and/or retrofits, such as at time of sale of commercial and residential properties.
- Work with energy provider to promote use of financial incentives to assist residential and commercial customers improve energy efficiency.
- Promote and reward energy efficiency efforts of local retail businesses.
- Collaborate with local retail businesses to encourage residents to purchase energy efficient products.
- Adopt an energy financing program, such as that available through AB 811 energy financing districts, to encourage energy efficiency retrofits in existing residential and commercial buildings.
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