COSA OEP Noticias Verdes

City of San Antonio Office of Environmental Policy Noticias Verdes
Noticias Verdes	Tuesday, April 6, 2010 / Volume 3 Issue 4
Welcome The Office of Environmental Policy (OEP) is pleased to provide you with up-to-date information about environmental news and events from within San Antonio and surrounding areas. There are lot of exciting things going on and those of us at OEP are doing our best to stay on top of these efforts to promote economic growth through sustainable development.	In this issue: • State Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate Program Can Help You Save This April Partner Events • Revitalizing the Inner City Planning Event • Advanced Lighting: LED’s and Beyond • Bike Night - Bicycle Mobility Advisory Committee • City of San Antonio Earth Day Celebration – Fiesta Verde • Solartricity Workshops by CPS Energy • Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) Workshop • Solar Fest • Walk & Roll Fest • Alamo Colleges Green Jobs Orientations OEP and COSA News • CasaVerde SA Ramps Up Low-Income Weatherization Assistance • Recent City of San Antonio City Council Actions • City Receives Grants from State Energy Conservation Office • OEP Launches Employee Bike Share Pilot Program • Save for Tomorrow Energy Plan (STEP) Reporting Now Online • Nominations now being accepted for the City of San Antonio Green Building Awards • San Antonio Continues to Prepare for Electric Vehicles Research and Recognitions • Energy Consumption Associated with Water • San Antonians Honored by Sierra Club
New on the OEP Website: http://www.sanantonio.gov/oep Mission Verde Center: An overview of the center's goals, objectives, and partners. Mission Verde Resolution: Full text of the resolution passed by the City of San Antonio City Council on February 4, 2010. Safe Passing Ordinance: Full text of the ordinance passed by the City of San Antonio City Council on February 4, 2010. STEP Performance Reporting: Quarterly reports from CPS Energy tracking the progress of the Save for Tomorrow Energy Plan (STEP) San Antonio Green Building Awards: Overview and nomination forms for the 2010 San Antonio Green Building Awards.
State Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate Program Can Help You Save This April Registration begins Wednesday, April 7 at 7am Purchases can take place from April 16 through April 25, 2010 The state of Texas received more than $23 million in federal stimulus funds from the U.S. Department of Energy to establish and administer an Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate Program — the first of its kind in Texas. The Texas Trade Up Appliance Rebate Program encourages consumers to replace old (but functional) appliances with new, energy efficient, ENERGY STAR® or CEE qualified models to stimulate the Texas economy and increasing energy conservation efforts in Texas. *How do I apply for a rebate?* The program officially begins on Wednesday, April 7, 2010 at 7 am when rebate reservations will be accepted online at http://www.texaspowerfulsmart.org/ or via toll-free call to 1-877-780-3039. The purchase period for all appliances begins April 16, 2010. Appliances must be purchased from a Texas retail location or contractor. Online purchases are not eligible. For refrigerators, freezers, clothes washers, dishwashers and room air conditioners, the purchase period ends April 25, 2010. For central air conditioners, hot water heaters and air-source heat pumps, the purchase period ends 60 days from the rebate reservation or waitlist request date. *Who qualifies?* Texas residents with a valid Texas residential address qualify for a rebate if they follow all program rules. You can qualify for one rebate per appliance category (for instance, you may not qualify for two refrigerator rebates), two appliance rebates per household and two recycling bonus rebates per household from the eligible appliance list. Texas residents who apply for a rebate must replace an old, but functional, appliance from one of the eligible categories with a new ENERGY STAR or CEE qualified appliance. *Act Fast* Texas anticipates high interest in this program and rebate reservations will go quickly. Though placement on the waitlist is not a guarantee of a rebate reservation, rebate applications from waitlist participants will be processed in the order they are received pending available funds.
Partner Events Revitalizing the Inner City Planning Event April 12 – 8:30am to 1pm – Mission Verde Center @ Cooper The City of San Antonio Community Development Advisory Committee invites you to participate in the 2nd annual Revitalizing the Inner City Planning Event. The event attempts to address: The Built Environment: How do we use environmental challenges to spur growth and stay competitive? Urban Development: How does our inner city benefit from long range transit plans? Health Strategies: How do we address neighborhood design to support a healthy city? Join fellow citizens to learn how the Inner City Reinvestment/ Infill Policy and related initiatives will revitalize San Antonio! Seating is limited please RSVP to reserve a seat. For more info: cdsummit@sanantonio.gov or 207-4086. Advanced Lighting: LED’s and Beyond April 12 – 9am – Greater San Antonio Builders Association This Build San Antonio Green workshop will include an update on advances in efficient residential lighting, new fixtures to help improve lighting performance, information from CPS Energy on current and future lighting trends, and a presentation about Build San Antonio Green. Cost is $40 for BSAG members and $50 for non-BSAG members. For additional information, contact Kris Zebrowski, or call the office at 210-224-7278 Bike Night - Bicycle Mobility Advisory Committee April 14 – 6:30pm – Via Metro Center Join the MPOs Bicycle Mobility Advisory Committee (BMAC) for the April Bike Night meeting. The draft final report of the MPOs Road Diet Study will be presented. This study identifies close to 200 miles of roadways that could be restriped to include bicycle facilities. In addition, there will be the standard monthly project updates and an opportunity for Citizens to be Heard. Leigh refreshments will be served. For more information about the BMAC, click here City of San Antonio Earth Day Celebration – Fiesta Verde April 17 – 10am to 4pm – Woodlawn Lake Park An official Fiesta event, the Earth Day Celebration includes entertainment stages, vegetarian food and beverage booths, tree-planting demonstrations, a 5K run, workshops, and seminars demonstrating various energy and conservation ideas and techniques. For more information call Earth Day chairman Joe Alderete, 434-6967. Solartricity Workshops by CPS Energy Workshop #1: April 27 – 10am to 12 noon – Bright Shawl (819 Augusta) Workshop #2: May 5 – 6pm to 8pm – Aggie Park (6205 West Avenue) CPS Energy will host two Solartricity Producer workshops to provide more details on the program, including the application process and interconnection requirements. Applicants with solar-energy systems that produce 25 to 500 kilowatts will be eligible for the program. Solartricity producers will be responsible for the cost involved in purchasing, installing and maintaining their own solar-energy systems. Preliminary plans call for Solartricity producers to sign 20-year agreements to sell solar energy at a rate of 27 cents per kilowatt-hour (KWH) to CPS Energy. To help fund the project, CPS Energy plans to establish a Solartricity program comparable to Windtricity that will allow CPS to sell solar energy at a retail price to residential and commercial customers. Just like a business buys raw material from a wholesaler to make a product, CPS Energy plans to purchase energy from wholesale Solartricity producers and sell it to customers as Solartricity. This distributed-generation model will be consistent with CPS Energy's Vision 2020 and the City of San Antonio's Mission Verde. Renewable energy sources like solar and wind are part of CPS Energy's overall strategy to meet Greater San Antonio's energy needs with diversified sources. CPS Energy has the most solar-generated electricity (41 MW) under contract in the state of Texas and are first nationally in wind-energy capacity among municipally owned utilities. For more information please contact Kathe Doran by email or at (210) 353-2787 Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) Workshop April 29 – 10am – EH Systems Plant (710 FM-306 New Braunfels) Build San Antonio Green welcomes you to learn about the advantages of SIP construction, the ease with which homes can be built, and the Build San Antonio Green program. The workshop will include a "behind the scenes" tour of the plant and lunch. Cost is $40 for BSAG members and $50 for non-BSAG members. For additional information, contact Kris Zebrowski, or call the office at 210-224-7278 Solar Fest May 1 – 9am to 4pm – Maverick Park This annual event hosted by Solar San Antonio and Build San Antonio Green fuses solar education and entertainment to provide the San Antonio community with a first-hand glimpse at available solar technologies and innovations. Enjoy live music, solar demonstrations, food, and fun under the live oaks of Maverick Park. Solar Fest provides valuable information to the public about renewable energy technologies, the impact of sustainable living, and green building techniques. Fun, free and family friendly! For more information, contact Christine Chapa. Walk & Roll Fest May 15 – 8am to noon – HemisFair Park It is that time of year when we celebrate active transportation! The San Antonio-Bexar County Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) is sponsoring the Walk & Roll Program’s 14th year! This year’s Walk & Roll Fest will be held on Saturday, May 15th from 8:00 a.m. to noon at HemisFair Plaza near the arch sign at Alamo and Nueva Streets. As always, there will have interesting exhibitors, plus dignitaries will speak at 10:30 a.m. and the band, Five for Eyes, will play from 8:00 a.m. until noon. Also, attendees will have an opportunity to learn about the new Bike Master Plan Update and Implementation Plan. More information, click here, or call or email Lydia Kelly at (210) 230-6911. Alamo Colleges Green Jobs Orientations Various Dates and Times in April and May Alamo Colleges is hosting Green Jobs Orientation sessions on various evenings throughout April and May. Contact Dayna De Hoyos @ 210.485.0240 for class locations and start dates or click on the links below for more information. Energy Rater and Weatherization Specialist Real Estate Basic Prof Inspector & Energy Rater Solar Panel Installer and Building Performance Specialist Weatherization and Construction Skills Weatherization and Solar Panel Installer		OEP Staff -Laurence Doxsey, Director -Liza Meyer, Special Projects Manager -Bill Barker, Senior Management Analyst -Julia Diana, Senior Management Analyst -Philip Gates, Senior Management Analyst -Robert Young, Management Analyst -Sara L. Kirby, Grants Management Officer -Sonia Hernandez, Administrative Associate Physical Address 111 Soledad, Suite 725 San Antonio, TX 78205 ph:210-207-6372 fax:210-207-4396 Mailing Address P.O. Box 839966 San Antonio, TX 78283-3966 Links San Antonio Bikes
	OEP and COSA News CasaVerde SA Ramps Up Low-Income Weatherization Assistance Casa Verde SA is a weatherization assistance program designed to assist low-income homeowners and renters by installing upgrades that increase the energy efficiency of their houses and reduce utility bills. The program is a partnership between the City of San Antonio's and CPS Energy. The program officially kicked off last month, and 28 homes were retrofitted during March. Contractors are now in place to continue the work to retrofit the 1,400 homes in San Antonio that will be weatherized under this federally supported program over a two-year period. For additional program information, call 210-353-CASA (2272) or go to: www.cpsenergy.com/Services/Casa_Verde_SA/ Recent City of San Antonio City Council Actions Since January, the City of San Antonio City Council has been busy approving legislation and projects that will have a powerful impact in helping to implement the Mission Verde Sustainability Plan and improve the quality of life for all of San Antonio. *Mission Verde Resolution:* On February 4, 2010, the City of San Antonio formally adopted the Mission Verde Sustainability Plan by resolution. Click here to download the accompanying presentation. For more information about the plan, visit the Mission Verde Sustainability Plan page. *Safe Passing Ordinance:* On February 4, the City of San Antonio adopted a Safe Passing Ordinance which sets a requirement of safe passing by motor vehicles for vulnerable road users. It establishes a duty of due care and the requirement of a motor vehicle operator not to interfere with vulnerable users' legal use of the road. Safe passing distance is defined as 3' for cars and 6' for commercial or large trucks that only applies when road conditions allow. Violation of the ordinance is punishable as a Class C misdemeanor and fine not to exceed $200.00. The language of the ordinance is identical to SB 488 passed by the 81st Texas Legislative Session in 2009. Contracts for Sustainability Related Projects: The following projects have been approved by Council and will be moving forward: “City Lights” Small Business Lighting Retrofit Program Bicycle Master Plan Update General Contractor “Green Retrofit” Rebate Program Airport Police Cruiser Auxiliary Power Units Sustainable Neighborhood Planning Tool NuRide Ride Share and Green Travel Rewards Program Sponsorship Employee Sustainability Training Car Sharing Feasibility Study City Receives Grants from State Energy Conservation Office The City of San Antonio has recently been awarded two grants from the Texas State Energy Conservation Office (SECO) funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). *Electric Vehicles:* The City will convert five existing City-owned hybrid electric vehicles into plug-in hybrid electric vehicles using conversion kits supplied by a certified manufacturer. The City will also install five dedicated electric vehicle recharging stations to provide electricity for the vehicles converted. $90,000 was awarded for this project. Requests for bids for the conversions and charging infrastructure will soon be posted on the City’s bidding and contracting opportunities site at: http://epay.sanantonio.gov/RFPListings/RFPList.aspx. *Distributed Renewable Energy:* The City will install 48 kW of grid-tied solar photovoltaic (PV) power generation capacity at the Mission Verde Center. The solar power will consist of solar Array's mounted on the building's roof top and a parking structure. The Center is a workforce training center that offers sustainability education in green construction and plumbing, and solar/smart grid training. $433,000 was awarded for this project. OEP Launches Employee Bike Share Pilot Program The Office of Environmental Policy has launched a pilot bike share program to help city employees ride to meetings, appointments, or even run errands. The bikes can be reserved online via the City’s intranet site, and are located at four sites (Municipal Plaza, Information Technology Services Department, Business & Development Services One Stop Shop, and Traffic Operations). The program utilizes bicycles that had been provided to the San Antonio Police Department as demos in the past, but were not being used for operations, thus the pilot program has been implemented at no cost to the City. Save for Tomorrow Energy Plan (STEP) Reporting Now Online The City of San Antonio has established a set of accountability procedures for STEP. CPS Energy will provide quarterly and annual reports to the City of San Antonio indicating year to date STEP activity. The elements of the required detailed quarterly report information include: Charts indicating the number of kilowatts saved by customer class and program type Maps illustrating the allocation of rebates by Council district Maps illustrating the location of each rebate recipient with an overlay of socioeconomic income levels Quarterly reports for Q2 through Q4 of Fiscal Year 2009 are now available at http://www.sanantonio.gov/oep/step.asp. Nominations now being accepted for the City of San Antonio Green Building Awards In an effort to recognize the achievements made by local builders in constructing energy and water efficient buildings, the City of San Antonio is proud to announce its second annual Green Building Awards. The awards will celebrate builders who have made significant strides in improving the performance of their buildings, as well as, specific construction projects. Awards will be offered in several categories within the divisions of commercial and residential construction. The deadline for nominations is Friday, April 30, 2010. Nomination forms are below: Bill Sinkin Solar Technology Award: Open to all Solar Photovoltaic and Solar Thermal projects Practitioner / Champion Award: Open to all green building practitioners, politicians, corporate leaders, organizations, and individuals that participated in a green initiative and/or the construction of green project/projects Green Building Award: Open to all projects with outstanding sustainable features. San Antonio Continues to Prepare for Electric Vehicles On February 1, the Office of Environmental Policy, in conjunction with CPS Energy and the Greater San Antonio Builders Association, hosted an event targeted at the homebuilding industry as well as the greater community, to increase awareness about the coming electric vehicles and how the Alamo area is getting ready for them. The event featured individuals from Nissan presenting on the all-electric vehicle Leaf, as well as Verdek EV presenting on charging technology. For further information on how the City is preparing for electric vehicles, please visit: http://www.sanantonio.gov/oep/SAEV.asp Research and Recognitions Energy Consumption Associated with Water Did you know that a household in San Antonio consumes nearly 400 kWh in water consumption and processing in a year? This is approximately the same amount of electricity that a dishwasher consumes in a year or that a 45-watt light bulb burning continuously day and night for entire year will use. For more information about energy consumption associated with water, check out this article by Bill Barker of the Office of Environmental Policy. San Antonians Honored by Sierra Club The following San Antonians were honored by the Lone Star Chapter of the Sierra Club for their contributions to the environment. These individuals include: *Chapter Conservation Award* – Loretta Van Coppenolle Special Service Award – William and Lanny Sinkin (Solar San Antonio) Environmental Reporting Award – Greg Harman (San Antonio Current A full list of the award recipients can be found here.
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