SAN FRANCISCO
USA- Energy Efficiency City Profile
September 2010
PEOPLE TO CONTACT
SF Environment:
Cal Broomhead
Energy and Climate Programs Manager
415-355-3706
cal.broomhead@sfgov.org
Ann Kelly (start?)
Energy Efficiency Program Manager
415-355-3720
ann.kelly@sfgov.org
415-355-3708
alena.gilchrist@sfgov.org
Kathleen Hannon
Energy Programs Project Manager
415-355-3717
kathleen.hannon@sfgov.org
General SF Energy Watch info:
415.355.3769 or by e-mail at
energywatch@sfenvironment.org.
Alena Gilchrist
Energy Programs Project Manager
I. MUNICIPAL INFO
-All activities seems to be through SF Department of the Environment (SFE, the city environmental
agency) or SF Public Utility Commission (SFPUC, for water and city facilities, maybe not relevant
for us?)
-SF Energy Watch: multi-family and commercial (audits and rebates), funded by the ratepayer tax
through PG&E
-Save Energy at Home: information with links to resources (PG&E, SFPUC, Energy Star)
Sustainability Plan: July 1997
http://www.sustainable-city.org/Plan/Energy/intro.htm
-Long-term objective: Per capita residential energy use is down 50%.
Indicators: Ratio of renewable to non-renewable energy consumption (increasing) and Energy cost
per tax dollar (decreasing)
Strategic Plan: 2010-2012
Goal: zero net energy for all buildings
Objective A: Maximize the energy efficiency of businesses and residences, reducing 370,000 tons of
CO2 annually by 2012.
Actions:
1. Focus on natural gas savings and developing projects in multifamily and 2-4 unit buildings.
Investigate and adapt home performance analysis to the specifics of San Francisco’s older
residential buildings as well as make the information publicly available. (10-12)
2. Develop a strategy and action plan to achieve Zero Net Energy usage in both commercial and
residential buildings. Integrate efficiency retrofits with demand reduction, demand response, and
co-and tri-generation to get deeper savings. Include zero waste and water conservation services.
(10-11)
3. Complete legislation, including the Commercial Lighting Efficiency Ordinance (10) that requires
benchmarking commercial buildings (Green Building) (10), and amending the Residential Energy
Conservation Ordinance that affects buildings at time-of-sale (11-12).
4. Deliver comprehensive energy retrofit services to low-income and affordable multi-family
housing units. Encourage bundling with state programs such as the Low-income Solar Program
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
and other city services such as waste reduction, indoor air quality improvements, etc., and include
tenant education. (EJ)(10-11)
Coordinate work force training programs and help place the graduates in jobs conducting
performance-based energy assessments and retrofits (EJ, MOEWD) (10-12)
Assist with launching the Green Finance SF program and develop other financing structures to
assist building owners to make efficiency improvements. (11)
Target Redevelopment Agency projects. (Zero Waste) (10-11)
Conduct outreach and education for business start-ups to demonstrate benefits of efficiency
measures. (11)
Organize meetings with other local governments to stay informed about new approaches, tools,
and technologies. (10-11)
Advocate that the CPUC’s 2012 decision on the next era of efficiency programs order the
administration of funds through a single statewide independent agency dedicated to energy
efficiency. (11-12)
Continue advocating for the acquisition of PG&E data. (10-11)
Support the Energy Efficiency Task Force and incorporate its recommendations. (10-11)
II. VOLUNTARY PROGRAMS
SF Energy Watch
Joint with Pacific Gas & Electric Company (Private electric utility, funding from public goods charge)
1. Commercial Plus Program
-Business or facility (commercial)
-Free on-site energy surveys, recommendations for low-cost, energy-efficient improvements
-Improvements in these categories:
Lighting and Lighting Controls, HVAC equipment and controls, Refrigeration Equipment and
Controls, Commercial Food Service Equipment, Network Level Computer Power Management
Software (control over the power settings of all Microsoft Windows-based computers)
2. Small Business Direct Install Program
-An option within the Commercial Plus Program for small businesses
-Free energy assessment and followed by full project management through completion of the
installation by a contractor assigned by the program
3. Multifamily Plus Program
-Multifamily (residential)
-Building owners receive free full-building energy efficiency audits (both common and residential
spaces) and low- and no- cost installation of efficiency measures
-Measures include:
· Lighting and Lighting Controls
· Gas Water Heater and Boiler Controls
· Domestic Hot Water and Space Heating Systems
· Pipe Insulation
· Ceiling Insulation
· High-Efficiency Clothes Washers
· High-Efficiency Dishwashers
· Premium-Efficiency Pool Pump Motors (for in-ground only units)
· Refrigeration Recycling
· Vending Machine Controller
Interview Questions:
1. Which city departments are responsible for the SF Energy Watch programs?
2. How did they decide where to focus their activities?
3. How did they decide how to design the programs?
a. Why is the focus on commercial and multi-family?
b. How were the included measures decided?
c. Why is the direct install program available only for small businesses?
4. How many employees are working on these programs?
5. Can you estimate the cost of developing and implementing the program?
6. Where does the funding come from? (I think this is a PG&E funded program, but we should
confirm)
7. How many buildings/companies have participated? Do you have an estimate of energy savings?
8. How have you publicized this program?
9. Can you describe any challenges or obstacles that have arise around this program? Can you give
specific examples?
10. Have you gotten any feedback (positive or negative) about these programs? Can you give
specific examples? Have you gotten any press around this?
11. Do you have any plans to enhance or modify the program in the future?
Save Energy In My Home
-Info sheets on HVAC, appliances and lighting
San Francisco 24x7 Energy Challenge For Commercial Buildings
-Mayor’s office
-Track (using ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager and PG&E’s no-cost Automated Benchmarking
Service) and improve building efficiency > public recognition for most efficient and biggest
improvement
-PG&E and Energy Star have trainings (online)
-Early compliance: By 2011, disclosure of benchmarks will be required in California real estate
transactions
Interview Questions:
12. Whose idea was it to create this competition?
13. How many buildings/companies have participated? Do you have an estimate of energy savings?
14. How many employees are working on running the competition?
15. How have you publicized this program?
16. Can you describe any challenges or obstacles that have arise around this competition? Can you
give specific examples?
17. Have you gotten any feedback (positive or negative) about the competition? Can you give
specific examples? Have you gotten any press around this?
18. Can you estimate the cost of developing and implementing the program?
19. Do you have any plans to enhance or modify the competition in the future?
Old Programs:
Power Savers Program: 2002-2003 with funding provided by the California Public Utilities Commission,
helped over 4,000 small business owners reduce their lighting electricity loads by upgrading from older
fluorescent and incandescent lighting to newer, energy efficient fluorescent lighting.
III. MANDATORY ORDINANCES
Residential Energy Conservation Ordinance (RECO)
 Time of sale spending cap of $1,300 is invested in energy efficiency improvement at every
property transfer
 RECO-compliant homes are 10 percent more efficient than an average San Francisco home
 life cycle of energy efficiency improvements is 10 years
-Established 1989, requires owners to do an energy audit and install certain measures, then file an
inspection report with the Department of Building Inspection
-Only for homes built before 1978 and only need to do once
Interview Questions:
1. Whose idea was it to create this ordinance?
2. How did you come up with the form of the ordinance? Did you gain information from particular
cities or organizations?
3. Was there a particular champion?
4. What is the condition of the housing stock? Do most people own or rent their homes?
5. Can you describe any challenges or obstacles that arose to passing the ordinance? (Probe: Was
there any organized opposition?)
6. Which department is responsible for maintaining the ordinance and ensuring compliance? How
does the city manage the ordinance requirements (e.g. audits, permits etc.) to ensure compliance?
7. What challenges have you faced in implementing the program? Can you give specific examples?
8. Since the ordinance has taken effect, have you gotten any feedback (positive or negative)? Can
you give specific examples?
9. Do you have any estimates of energy savings? (per year, per house, for the program in total)
10. Can you estimate the cost of developing and implementing the ordinance?
11. Do you have any plans to enhance or modify the ordinance in the future (e.g. more stringent
requirements, higher cost cap, etc.)
12. Have other cities approached you about this program? What advice have you (or would you)
given?
Commercial Lighting Efficiency Ordinance
Ordinance amending the San Francisco Building Code by adding a new Chapter 13D, Sections 1301D
through 1311D, to require commercial buildings to increase efficiency of fluorescent lighting by the year
2011
-Passed March 2010
-Right before the Energy Policy Act of 1992 takes effect (starting 2012 cannot sell inefficient fluorescent
ballasts in US)
-Building owners must certify that they meet the standards
Interview Questions:
1. Whose idea was it to create this ordinance?
2. How did you come up with the form of the ordinance and technical specifications? Did you gain
information from particular cities or organizations?
3. Can you describe any challenges or obstacles that arose to passing the ordinance? (Probe: Was
there any organized support or opposition?)
4. Which department is responsible for maintaining the ordinance and ensuring compliance? How
does the city manage the ordinance requirements (e.g. audits, permits etc.) to ensure compliance?
5. What challenges do you anticipate in implementing the requirements?
6. Since the ordinance has taken effect, have you gotten any feedback (positive or negative)? Can
you give specific examples?
7. Do you have any estimates of energy savings? (per year, per house, for the program in total)
8. Can you estimate the cost of developing and implementing the ordinance?
9. Have other cities approached you about this program? What advice have you (or would you)
given?
GENERAL INTERVIEW QUESTIONS:
1. Is this a complete listing of the city’s energy efficiency programs (targeting for residential and
commercial, not the city’s own facilities)?
a. Most of their programs are focused on commercial, why is this?
2. Which city departments are responsible for energy efficiency programs?
3. How do they decide what to include?
4. Where does the funding for the programs come from?
5. Do you have any data (e.g. numbers of businesses/residents processed, energy savings, measures
installed, etc) that you can share? Any reports or success stories written?
6. What cities have you learn from when deciding how to implement programs?
7. What kind of information would be helpful to you managing these programs (or developing new
ones) in the future?
RESOURCES
SPUR’s Policy Paper on Updating RECO:
http://www.spur.org/publications/library/report/critical_cooling/option1
SF Environment’s Energy Efficiency Page:
http://www.sfenvironment.org/our_programs/topics.html?ssi=6&ti=14
SF Energy Watch:
http://www.sfenergywatch.org/
SF PUC (mostly water and energy for city government):
http://sfwater.org/msc_main.cfm/MC_ID/12/MSC_ID/142
Notes:
From SF’s Climate Action Plan (pES-5)
GHG emissions: about half from buildings and half from energy, 4% from municipal buildings,
Commercial =16%, Residential = 10%