San Diego Regional Energy Office announces Energy Leadership Awards

Navy, Shea Homes and Solar Turbines Recognized for innovative energy projects.

provided by San Diego Regional Energy office

 

n celebration of Earth Day 2000, the San Diego Regional Energy Office (SDREO) is recognizing innovative energy projects and programs that benefit the San Diego region through energy cost savings and air pollution reduction. The Energy Leadership Awards recognize San Diego businesses, government entities and nonprofit organizations for outstanding research, development or application of innovative energy-related technologies, policies or programs that benefit the region. The awards were presented at San Diego EarthWorks' VIP (Very Important Planet) Reception last month.

According to Kurt Kammerer, Executive Director of the Energy Office, "The Energy Leadership Awards are an opportunity to highlight the accomplishments of specific organizations that have contributed to the tremendous progress the region has made toward the goals set out in the San Diego Regional Energy Plan." The Regional Energy Plan, adopted by the San Diego Association of Governments in 1994, is a blueprint of energy policies and actions that can realize cumulative energy cost savings of nearly $1.5 billion, the creation of over 5,000 new jobs in energy efficiency services, and the elimination of about 1/2 million tons of air pollutants.

 

2000 Regional Energy Leadership Award Winners

Navy Environmental Leadership Program (NELP) - Solar Electric/Electric Vehicle Project

 

NELP recently installed a 21.6 kilowatt photovoltaic (solar electric) array on their North Island Command Staff Building 678. Energy generated by the system will be used to offset energy used by five electric vehicle charging stations.

NELP estimates that, by offsetting a portion of peak electricity demand of the building and using the energy to charge electric vehicles over a 25 year period, the system will reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 754 tons, sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions by 8.15 tons, and nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions by 3.57 tons.

 

Shea Homes San Diego -- Energy-Efficient Homes/Solar Water Heaters

  Shea Homes has emerged as the leader of energy-efficient residential home building in the San Diego. Shea Homes is building homes that are up to 30 percent more energy efficient than standard homes. In addition, Shea Homes has begun offering solar water heaters as an option in their Canterbury Development in Carlsbad and plans to expand the offering in Hillsdale, a project in El Cajon. This makes Shea Homes the first local home-builder to participate in the President's Million Solar Roof Initiative.

 

Solar Turbines, Inc. - Grass-roots Energy Conservation Initiative

  In March 1999, Frank Chiang, Solar Turbine's facilities electrical engineer, sparked a grass-roots campaign to conserve energy at Solar Turbines locations. By encouraging staff to turn lights off, shut down computers and other office equipment, Frank's efforts led to energy savings of 2.5 million kilowatt-hours, or the equivalent of $125,000 in the first year alone. Solar's accomplishments show that even low-tech, grass-roots efforts can save tremendous amounts of energy with little or no investment.

 

Honorable Mention

Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) - Energy Management Control System/Energy Upgrades

  NAVFAC is in the process of installing an energy management control system and making energy upgrades at the Naval Medical Center that will result in over $3 million per year in energy savings.

 

STMicroelectronics - Energy-Based Environmental Decalogue

  STMicroelectronics has an energy-focused, company-wide environmental commitment called the Environmental Decalogue that includes an aggressive plan to save energy at its Rancho Bernardo site.

 

Navy Region Southwest, Regional Energy Management
Program - Photovoltaic Array

  Navy Region Southwest installed a 15 kilowatt photovoltaic array on Building 3300, Naval Station in San Diego and is deploying a number of other clean, renewable technologies such as wind generation in Southern California. The Navy estimates that, over the next 20 years, the system will reduce CO2 emissions by over 770,000 pounds, SO2 emissions by 6,750 pounds, and NOx by 2,738 pounds.

 

Kyocera Solar Electric Array/Cogeneration

Kyocera is one of the world's leading manufacturers of photovoltaic solar electric panels. Kyocera's San Diego plant has the largest photovoltaic system (50 kilowatts) in San Diego County, which has been producing power from the sun since 1987.

The San Diego Regional Energy Office is the clearinghouse for regional energy information and provides a broad array of energy programs to benefit the region. To learn more about the Regional Energy Office, see www.sdenergy.org. San Diego Regional Energy Office, 401 B Street, Suite 800, San Diego, CA 92101; (619) 595-5630; fax: (619) 595-5305; email: sdreosdenegy.org.