City of San Antonio Awarded $10M from Department of Energy Retrofit Ramp-Up Program

On April 21, 2010, The Obama Administration announced that San Antonio was one of 25 cities selected to receive a $10 million grant as part of the Department of Energy American Recovery and Reinvestment Act "Retrofit Ramp-Up" Awards. The grant will fund a new program called the San Antonio Green Retrofit Initiative which will implement green building retrofits that lead to major cost-savings in energy upgrades for residential, commercial, and industrial buildings.

"Like the Mission Verde Center, this grant helps bring sustainability from the ivory tower down to the neighborhoods where it belongs," said Mayor Julián Castro. "This will help homeowners and small businesses not only to better understand, but to afford energy efficiency."

This innovative program will incorporate comprehensive energy audits with recommended conservation strategies for implementing energy-efficient, cost-saving improvements.

"We are extremely pleased to be selected out of a very large number of applicants to receive this award," said Office of Environmental Policy Director, Laurence Doxsey. "This Retrofit Ramp-Up award from the US Department of Energy will significantly help the City accelerate the opportunities for lowering energy bills for a large cross section of our city."

The Green Retrofit initiative proposes a "One Gateway" approach to provide a single point of contact for both homeowners and businesses regarding enrollment in existing and new energy efficiency programs in the City.  The initiative also proposed that energy-efficiency improvements could be financed through revolving loans, regular commercial loans, and performance contracting. Financing could also be made available through the recently passed Texas law that allows for Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) improvements to be repaid over time by owner-requested assessments on their own property. In addition, homeowners will be made aware of eligible rebate programs and tax credits to also assist in the cost of improvements.

The City is currently working with the Department of Energy to finalize program design elements.  Check back with the OEP website (www.sanantonio.gov/oep) over the coming months as the initiative begins to roll out.

The official press release from the Department of Energy can be found at: http://www.energy.gov/news/8870.htm

OEP and COSA News

CasaVerde SA Retrofits 100th Home

On April 27, the CasaVerde SA program retrofitted its 100th household, and is well on its way to reaching its goal of assisting over 1,400 San Antonio households achieve energy savings that will result in lower utility bills.  In addition to the energy savings for participating households, the program has also created jobs for local energy auditors and contractors who have been evaluating homes and installing cost-effective energy saving measures, such as insulation and weather-stripping and caulking.

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 Office of Environmental Policy and CPS Energy.  For eligibility criteria and application materials, call 210-353-CASA (2272) or go to: www.cpsenergy.com/Services/Casa_Verde_SA/

San Antonio Bikes named "Best Public Program Work in Progress"

San Antonio Bikes was named the 2010 Downtown Alliance "Best Public Program Work in Progress". The Alliance noted the program "is intended to enhance San Antonio’s livability by promoting active lifestyles and bicycling as a viable form of clean, alternative transportation for both residents and visitors. Downtown has been identified as a critical focal point for the mission to increase the level of daily use of bicycle ridership and to improve cycling safety."

Bicycle Awareness and Safety Media Campaign

San Antonio Bikes has launched a Bicycle Awareness and Safety Media Campaign to enforce recent local legislation such as the "Safe Passing" ordinance and a requirement to properly equip a bicycle with lights and reflectors when riding at night. The campaign is being designed to encourage people to ride a bike and will also highlight local trails and amenities. Furthermore, the campaign will remind all users of the road to be careful and watch out for each other. Look for updates on the San Antonio Bikes Website as the campaign rolls out this summer.

Additionally, On April 19, 2010, OEP's Julia Diana and the San Antonio Wheelmen were featured on Texas Public Radio's The Source to discuss "Cycling in the Alamo City". You can download the entire broadcast or access it from the show's site.

OEP Sponsored Presentation: How a Whole Community Can Become Sustainable

Wednesday, May 12 – 12 noon – Pearl Studio Full Goods Building

This presentation will feature David Gershon, founder and CEO of the Empowerment Institute. He is one of the world’s foremost authorities on behavior-change and large-system transformation, and applies this expertise to issues requiring community, organizational, and societal change. His clients include cities, government agencies, large organizations, and social entrepreneurs. He has addressed a wide diversity of issues, ranging from low carbon lifestyles, livable neighborhoods, and sustainable communities to organizational talent development and cultural transformation.

The City of San Antonio’s Office of Environmental Policy has retained David Gershon to help train and empower City staff in sustainability and to use his strategies to “ramp-up” energy efficiency retrofits throughout the community.

Space is limited so please RSVP by Friday May 7, 2010 to Sonia Hernandez by email or phone at 210-207-6103. A vegetarian lunch will be provided. Mr. Gershon will be available to sign his latest book Social Change 2.0: A Blueprint for Reinventing Our World at this event.

Recent City of San Antonio City Council Actions

Fleet Environmental Acquisition Policy

On April 15, 2010, the City of San Antonio adopted a Fleet Environmental Acquisition Policy.  This policy provides a framework, endorsed by City Council, for future fleet acquisitions and addresses environmental strategy that targets the reduction of green house and air quality gas emissions as well as dependency on oil through selective acquisitions.

The policy includes:

• Using a “Total Cost of Ownership” analysis to establish bid specifications for vehicle acquisitions
• Establishing a greenhouse gas emissions reduction target of 17% below 2005 levels by 2020
• Establishing an air quality emissions reduction target of 30% below 2009 levels by 2020
• Adding alternative fuel options for the City’s fleet
• Leveraging grant opportunities

In the near term, this policy will result in the acquisition of hybrid sedans and propane pickup trucks in upcoming vehicles purchases, as well a pilot program using E85 ethanol-blended gasoline in certain fleet vehicles.  Long term, this policy will help facilitate the introduction of emerging technologies such as electric vehicles and advanced alternative fuels.

Green Events Ordinance

On April 8, 2010, the City of San Antonio adopted a Green Events Ordinance that requires certain events to obtain a Green Event Certification as well a establishes a fee for events that choose to purchase a Green Event Certification in lieu of implementing “green” practices.  This ordinance targets the reduction of waste, energy and materials consumption at medium (1,000 to 2,000 people) and large-scale (greater than 2,000 people) events occurring through City contracts and permits for usage of City-owned properties. 

In order to obtain a Green Event Certification, event organizers will be required to complete a Green Event Scorecard for submittal along with each City reservation contract or permit.  The scorecard (with a total of 165 points) will contain the various “green” measures and practices that event organizers can implement to obtain certification, such as providing recycling opportunities or utilizing two-sided printing for promotional materials.  City staff will develop a “Green Events Planning Guide” that will outline how to organize and coordinate a certifiable green event.  The guide will describe how to minimize, measure, and offset the impact of an event.  Event producers will have the opportunity to purchase the required certification points by paying a fee of $55 per point for medium-scale events.

The City of San Antonio’s Green Events Certification Program is based on four key elements:

• Education – ensure community event producers have the knowledge to minimize their environmental impact
• Measurement  – provide means to estimate environmental and economic benefits
• Recognition – provide awards and encourage events to apply for awards that recognize outstanding accomplishments
• Regulation – create a requisite baseline level of achievement from events needing City permits and/or use of City property and funds

Bike Light Ordinance

The City of San Antonio has adopted a Bike Light Ordinance. This ordinance is the same as State of Texas law requirements which require a front white light, and rear red reflector or red rear light. Not complying with the ordinance is a Class C Misdemeanor punishable up to $200 fine.

Upcoming Bid Opportunities

Design-Build Services for Solar Array System Installation

The City of San Antonio Capital Improvements Management Services Department is soliciting for the selection of a Design-Build firm/team for the design, construction, and installation of solar array system and Photovoltaic (PV) systems for one or two sites to be determined by the City.  Sites that are currently being considered are the top floor of the long-term parking garage at the San Antonio International Airport and/or on the Alamodome Parking Lot B, located on 100 Montana.  The Respondent must utilize design and installation staff that are either certified as a PV Installer through the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) or are in the process of becoming certified. 

This program is funded by the Department of Energy (DOE) formula-based grants to units of local government under the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Program, part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

To access this RFQ, please visit the City's Bidding and Contract Opportunities site at: http://epay.sanantonio.gov/RFPListings/RFPList.aspx