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September 2, 2010

California pushes for net zero energy commercial buildings

By 2030, all new commercial buildings will need to produce as much energy as they consume, like this building, the Environmental Tech Center at Sonoma State University

California looks set to bring in a series of codes and minimum standards requiring that by 2030, all new commercial buildings have a “net zero” energy balance.

The state’s Public Utilities Commission released a new Action Plan yesterday that will ultimately see all newly-build commercial facilities conserving energy and generating their own power.

The effect would be to have buildings that generate enough power to meet all their electricity needs.

California already has the highest number of “Zero Net Energy” buildings among US states, but its five billion square feet of commercial space still accounts for 38% of its total energy consumption.

The new Zero Net Energy Action Plan for Buildings sets out a roadmap to put into action ambitions first put down on paper in the CPUC’s 2008 California Energy Efficiency Strategic Plan.

“Zero net energy isn’t just a big, bold goal – it’s a reality today,” said CPUC Commissioner Dian M Grueneich. “By tapping into the innovation and entrepreneurial spirit that made California the largest builder of zero net energy structures in the nation, this action plan will succeed.”

Champions

The new Plan seeks to build a network of “champions” to drive the change needed, and a series of indicators by which progress can be monitored.

Initial years will see largely voluntary measures adopted, before expected codes and standards are put in place prior to 2030.

California already has a number of measures in place to help with the progress needed, with standards including requirements for televisions and other appliances set to come in from 2011.

In the medium term, new measures including smart meter adoption, efficiency incentives and assistance programs are expected to be brought into force.

The Plan suggests that as well as all new commercial buildings, up to half of existing commercial buildings would be retrofitted to be Zero Net Energy buildings by 2030.

Control

Martha Brook, senior mechanical engineer in the High Performance Buildings and Standards Development Office of the California Energy Commission, said that energy was one of the biggest expenses a building owner faces – but is also one over which a building owner has the most control.

Ms Brook said: “The more building owners can do to reduce energy use, manage costs and move toward zero net energy, the better they will be able to stay competitive and profitable now and into the future. With this plan, the state is poised to help owners down this path toward zero net energy use and greater prosperity.”

Shilpa Sankaran, co-founder of ZETA Zero Energy Communities, a company based in San Francisco which produces energy-efficient building components for developers, said the zero net energy vision was attainable now.

She said: “California has a thriving ZNE building industry that is creating entire neighborhoods, schools, offices and other buildings and communities that are cleaner, healthier, more comfortable and affordable places to live and work. The more progress we make toward ZNE buildings and transform the market, the more Californians will have the opportunity to live and work in these superior structures.”