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HomeMy WebLinkAboutFinal_Rec_Carla_Example_RBFinal_Rec_Carla_Example 1 of 2 10/11/20181/9/2008 CITY OF CHULA VISTA Climate Change Working Group Example Measure Text Measure Number: 25 Original Short Text of Measure: Mandatory Energy Assessments for Businesses City employee to provide energy efficiency work recommendations. Short Text of Measure (with any minor modifications necessary, 50 words max): The City of Chula Vista Climate Change Working Group recommends that City of Chula Vista-licensed businesses be required to participate in an energy audit of their physical premises every three years. Recommended Performance Metrics for Measure (50 words max): The implementation of this measure requires an addition to the City’s municipal code stipulating the energy audit assessment requirement. Before the code could be written it would be necessary to establish who would perform the audits assessments (likely City Staff supported by SDG&E), what standards were to be met, and how the audits asssessments would be integrated into the business licensing process. Once the code was in place, perf ormance could be gauged by measuring the number of audits completed. Recommended Long Text for Measure (250 words max) The City of Chula Vista Climate Change Working Group recommends that City of Chula Vista-licensed businesses be required to participate in an energy audit of their physical premises every three years as a way of helping city businesses take advantage of rapidly evolving energy-efficiency practices and technologies. The City of San Diego has had a similar code in place since the early nineties requiring that all buildings receiving water service from the City of San Diego obtain a Water Conservation Plumbing Certificate upon change of ownership. This requirement has led to widespread installation of water-conserving equipment in the building stock. The City of Berkeley has a similar municipal code in place requiring businesses to complete an energy audit upon change of ownership. This Final_Rec_Carla_Example 2 of 2 10/11/20181/9/2008 code has been shown to create a heightened awareness of energy conservation among citizens. The proposed requirement for businesses to complete an energy audit would be based on the City of San Diego/ City of Berkeley codes, but would require audits to take place every three years rather than upon change of ownership. The proposed code would integrate the audits into the existing Business License Renewal Program, with audits to be conducted by City Staff with support from the SDG&E Partnership Programs. Specific auditing standards would vary by business type, but would be designed for flexibility in order to help take advantage of emerging technologies. Please provide concise answers for how the project will have/be: (complete sentences) Fiscally Feasible: City Staff currently conduct energy audits as part of the SDG&E-City of Chula Vista Energy Conservation Program. The required business audits would be an outgrowth of that effort, and would likely be separately grant-funded. Mailings could be done in collaboration with existing Business License Renewal mailings, possibly with the use of funds from future SDG&E-City of Chula Vista Partnerships. Short Timeframe: Increased business energy audits could result almost immediately in energy conservation/ efficiency behaviors. Reduction in CO2 emissions can reasonably be expected within the 2-3 year time frame. Quantifiable Results: Reductions in energy use are among the easiest things to quantify in the City’s GHG emissions inventory. Effective energy audits that change business behaviors can be expected to yield quantifiable, albeit modest, GHG reductions. Prior Execution: Berkeley, CA, San Jose, CA, San Diego, CA (water audit) No Adverse Effects: While requiring businesses to complete an energy audit every three years would add an additional complication to the business licensing process, the benefit to businesses in cost savings through energy use reduction can be expected to overwhelm the hassle of completing the audit. While the audits would create additional complexity for the City’s business licensing staff, it is possible that the SDG&E-City of Chula Vista partnership will be able to provide adequate staff and financial support to avoid burdening the existing process.