Clean & Green Alternative Energy Action Plan - Silicon Valley ...

Clean & GreenAlternative EnergyAction Planregional responseglobal challengeThe following list of projects and initiativeshas been embraced by the Silicon ValleyLeadership Group’s members.Thank you for your interest in the criticaland related issues of energy, environmentand the economy.

Cool CommutesSolarTecha competition to reduce greenhouse gasesTransportation is the largest and fastest growing sourceof greenhouse gasses (GHG) in California and accountsfor more than 40 percent of all GHG emissions. Collectively,our region can set a powerfulexample and begin to ratchet downgreenhouse gas emissions by substantiallyincreasing the number ofemployees who carpool, take transit,bike, walk, or telecommute ratherthan drive solo to work.In this competition, similarly-sized employers are competingto see who can encourage the greatest number ofemployees to use a green commute. There are severalways – many of these free or low cost – for employers toencourage employees to try alternative commutes. Forexample, employers can post information on transit inpublic spaces, provide lockers and showers for those whowant to bicycle to work, or consider giving out prizesto those who use commute alternatives. More ideas areposted on svlg.net along with information on how toparticipate in Cool Commutes.The second annual competition will begin in October2007 and conclude in October 2008. Come join in. This isa competition where everybody walks away a winner!solar industry center for excellenceRecently, the California Solar Initiative and national SolarAmerica Initiative have established programs and incentivesfor implementing solar power. Will Silicon Valley beable to meet the challengeto become a center of excellencein solar technologyindustry development andmarket deployment? Canregional collaboration focusingon reducing the installedcost of solar drive job growthand industry sustainability?The newly formed “SolarTech” partnership released aWhite Paper in June 2007 examining these questions, andis forming the blueprint to achieve the vision of a “Solar”Valley focused in seven areas: developing standards forinstallation, equipment performance, and utility interconnection;streamlining building permitting; ensuringadequate workforce training; creating accessible financingmodels; and facilitating new technology developmentand market dispersion.Visit solartech.org to find out more and join the LeadershipGroup utility, industry and education partners in oureffort.Contact: Bena Chang, bchang@svlg.netContact: Justin Bradley, jbradley@svlg.net• Impact on GHG emissions: • Decreases traffic congestion• Increases transit efficiency• Reduces pollution• Increased productivity• Impact on GHG emissions: • Provides cost competitive and reliablesolar powered products• Provides economic stimulusSilicon Valley Leadership GroupClean & Green Alternative Energy Action Plan

Cycle to WorkEfficient Data Centersceo / celebrity challenge: cycle-to-work dayMore than one million Bay Area residents–almost 40percent of Bay Area commuters–live within five miles oftheir workplace. Yet, lessthan five percent use abicycle as their primarymeans of commuting.If every person livingwithin five miles of theirworkplace pedaled totheir job, more than60,000 vehicles would betaken off the road, reducingtailpipe emissionsby more than 150,000pounds daily.Pictured (left to right): Specialized CEO MikeSinyard, SVB Financial COO Greg Becker, SAP EVPDoug Merritt, Palo Alto Mayor Yoriko Kishimoto,and Palm CEO Ed Colligan.Not only is bicycling goodfor the environment,bicyclists also experience better health. The CEO / CelebrityCycle-to-Work Day challenges CEOs and celebrities toride their bike to work in conjunction with “Bike to WorkDay” – an annual national event held in mid-May thatencourages residents to try bicycling.Some 50 CEOs and celebrities participated in 2007. Weaim to increase that number in 2008.cutting edge technologies and practicesEnergy efficiency is one of the most effective means ofreducing GHGs in the short term. But sometimes, newtechnologies need to develop a track record to gain wideacceptance.The Leadership Group is facilitating collaborationbetween data center users, Lawrence Berkeley NationalLabs and the University of California, Davis’ new EnergyEfficiency Center (EEC) to demonstrate emerging andbest available energy efficient technologies and practicesfor data centers. The participants have identified threefocus areas that impact data center energy utilization:operation and capital efficiency; IT equipment (servers,storage and networking); and data center infrastructuredesign and construction (cooling systems, power conditioning,conversion and distribution, lighting, configurationand energy sources, etc.).By partnering with organizations in the process of retrofittingexisting data centers and building new ones, wehave a timely opportunity to accelerate the transfer ofinnovative ideas. In 2008, the Data Center DemonstrationProject will publish case studies that document capitalcost, energy savings, performance, payback period andCO2 emissions reduction for each project as well as potentialenergy savings from more widespread adoption.Contact: Carl Guardino, cguardino@svlg.netContact Ray Pfeifer, rpfeifer@svlg.net• Impact on GHG emissions: • Decreases traffic congestion• Decreases pollution• Improves employee health• Impact on GHG emissions: • Decreases pollution• Decreases costsSilicon Valley Leadership GroupClean & Green Alternative Energy Action Plan

Sustainable Silicon ValleyGreen Buildingjoin sustainable silicon valley (SSV)Sustainable Silicon Valley (SSV) is a non-profit collaborationof businesses, governments, academic institutionsand non-governmental organizations working togetherto address environmentaland resourcepressures inSilicon Valley.Using an EnvironmentalManagement System(EMS) framework, SSVestablished reduction ofenergy use and carbondioxide (CO2) emissions as its first priority.SSV publicly recognizes and promotes the successfulsteps its partners are taking to save energy, save moneyand help the environment. SSV seeks recognition for theaccomplishments of its partners who are helping reduceglobal warming through press coverage, awards andother acknowledgment.Through regular educational forums, the SVLG EnergyWatch Partnership, and peer-networking opportunities,SSV provides its pledging partners with timely information,access to financial resources and a network ofexperts.Contact: Margaret Bruce, mbruce@svlg.netSSV began in 2001 as a project of theCalifornia Environmental Protection Agencyin collaboration with the Silicon ValleyLeadership Group and the Silicon ValleyEnvironmental Partnership. SSV becamean independent public benefit, non-profitorganization in October 2004. SSV plansto broaden its scope of action to includeother important environmental and resourcepressures.www.sustainablesiliconvalley.orgpractices and standards for green buildingBuildings in the United States account for 36% of totalenergy use, 30% of greenhouse gas emissions, 30%of raw materials use and 30% of waste output. Thesefigures translate intoenvironmental costs andbottom line businesscosts―costs that areborne by all includinghomeowners, renters,governmental agencies,small business ownersand large companies.The Leadership Group is focused on working with SiliconValley municipalities to adopt or strengthen green buildingpolicies and programs that appropriately encouragethe private and public sector to build green.For example, we are working to advance policy that:• Creates regionally consistent green buildingdefinitions and measurements• Avoids overly burdensome regulations• Considers the availability of markets for greenproducts• Enhances local job creation & competitivenessContact: Shiloh Ballard, sballard@svlg.netAdobe has invested $1.4 million on green buldlingretrofits, and will save $1.2 million annually.• Impact on GHG emissions: • Reduces energy use and expenses• Access to financial resources• Provides education• Peer networking• Impact on GHG emissions: • Decreases traffic congestion• Increases transit efficiency• Increased productivity• Provides economic stimulusSilicon Valley Leadership GroupClean & Green Alternative Energy Action Plan

BARTEnergy Watch Partnershiprapid transit to silicon valleyBy 2025, the BART extension to Silicon Valley is expectedto generate the equivalent of two new lanes in eitherdirection on I-880. In addition to reducing greenhousegasses, extending BART would reduce traffic congestion,increase the construction of transit-oriented development,stimulate the economy and improve air quality.Silicon Valley Leadership Group continues to advocate forcompletion of this high priority project at all levels.Contact: Laura Stuchinsky, lstuchinsky@svlg.net• Impact on GHG emissions: High Speed Raila clean & fast long distance alternativeThe state is considering building a 700+ mile high-speedrail line between northern and southern California similarto high-speed systems currently in operation in Europeand Asia. Such a system will cost two tothree times less than expanding freewaysand airports to meet projected demand.Silicon Valley Leadership Group advocatesfor state and federal funding, and a routethat maximizes service.Contact: Laura Stuchinsky, lstuchinsky@svlg.net• Impact on GHG emissions: $6.4 million for energy efficiency rebatesEfficient energy use is one of the largest, fastest, cheapest,most benign, yet least visible, the least understood,and most neglected ways toaddress our energy challenges.The U.S. EPA states that forevery $1 invested in energy efficiency,asset value increases byan estimated $3. As a strategic investment, energy-efficientimprovements provide competitive, secure life cyclereturns, enhance employer image, increase employeeproductivity and mitigate price and reliability risks.The Energy Watch Partnership is providing comprehensiveservices and attractive rebates to employers lookingto boost their efficiency and save on operating costs. Theprogram team can help analyze your facility’s energy use,then recommend and implement cost-effective retrofitsand building ‘tune-ups’. Energy Watch aims to deliver25.5 million kilowatt-hours in electricity savings by theend of 2008. That’s the equivalent to 14,000 tons ofcarbon dioxide reduced, or the electricity used by 3,760households in one year. The rebates and services fromthis program are provided through the joint efforts ofPacific Gas and Electric Company, Sustainable SiliconValley, and the Leadership Group. These services areavailable to all Leadership Group and SSV members.Contact: Frank Teng, fteng@svlg.net• Impact on GHG emissions: • Reduces company operating costs• Improves service• Increases productivitySVLG*This program is funded byCalifornia utility ratepayers underthe auspices of the California PublicUtilities Commission (CPUC).Silicon Valley Leadership GroupClean & Green Alternative Energy Action Plan

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