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HomeMy WebLinkAbout15 Conservation Programs Agenda Item # 15 RUCKEE DONNER DistrictPublic Utility te -—Pu WORKSHOP To: Board of Directors From: Scott Terrell Date: May 21, 2008 Subject: 2008 Conservation Programs & Marketing Update 1. WHY THIS MATTER IS BEFORE THE BOARD To provide an update of the District's 2008 Energy Conservation Program activities, plans and conservation programs marketing. 2. HISTORY The District has been offering conservation services to its customers since 1992. Up until 1997 the services were primarily energy audits, helping customers with high energy bill complaints and educating customers through seminars, workshops and the Truckee Home Show on how to save energy and water. Since 1997, the District has been offering its customers conservation cash rebates for high efficiency appliances, building efficiency measures, high efficiency lighting, space heating and water heating. The District has been offering conservation rebate programs in part in response to A131890, the California State Public Benefits mandate. The District expanded its conservation programs in 2007 to comply with SB1037 and AB2021. Beginning in 2008, the District is required to report its conservation program impacts to the California State legislature. The District's Conservation Programs expanded again in 2008 with a variety of new programs listed below. The District has been using professional marketing services to promote the District's energy and water conservation programs for the last 10-12 years. 3. NEW INFORMATION Conservation Measures Rebates: Appliances- customers who replace their older clothes washers, dishwashers and refrigerators with new, high efficiency models that qualify as Energy Star are eligible for a $100 incentive. Also, in order for refrigerator rebate applicants to receive their $100 incentive they must participate in the District's Refrigerator Recycling Program and be willing to allow our refrigerator recycling contractor pick up their old primary refrigerator and have it recycled. Customers willing to give up their 2nd, 3rd or more working refrigerators located at their homes or businesses in Truckee will receive $30 per unit rebate for replacing and recycling them through the Refrigerator Recycling Program. Building Efficiency- TDPUD provides cash incentives for the testing and sealing of forced-air central distribution system ducts and building envelopes (floors, walls and ceilings); $75 for each test and 50% of mitigation cost up to $250 for sealing the leaks in the ducts and building envelope. Customers interested in participating in the Thermally-Efficient Windows Program must have an electric heating system as their primary source of heat. Participants must have existing single-pane windows and replace them with double-pane or triple-pane windows with vinyl or wood frames to receive the $5/square foot windows rebate. Lighting Efficiency- TDPUD provides cash incentives for changing out incandescent lighting at a rebate of $2/bulb replaced with a compact fluorescent light bulb. Truckee business customers can receive 1/3 of the total lighting project cost for replacing older lighting technology with new, high efficiency lighting. New business construction projects will receive 1/3 of lighting efficiency project costs (incremental cost beyond Title 24) for projects that exceed the Title 24 lighting requirements by 20% or more. Space Heating- the District provides a rebate of $200/ton for ground source heat pumps installed in District service area buildings. Water Heating- the District provides a rebate of $2/gallon for high efficiency electric water heaters installed in District service area buildings. Low/Moderate Income Energy Assistance Program: TDPUD has a new program that is designed to provide low and moderate income TDPUD customers with energy, cost savings assistance. The District has already provided the majority of low-income, affordable housing projects and tenants in Truckee with CFLs. Staff also plans to provide other energy (and water) saving measures like low-flow showerheads to low/moderate income families in Truckee. Community Outreach: Green Schools & Energy Education Program The Schools/Education program is designed for K-12 and Sierra Community College to educate students about energy and water saving opportunities. The District has been providing the middle school with the LivingWise Resource Saving Educational Kits for years and plans to continue this. Staff is looking at additional ways to expand on this program. Professional Outreach: Green Partners Program Retailers, Restaurants & Hospitality The District is working with retailers to expand their energy and water saving measures retail sales offerings to the Truckee community. Staff is also working with restaurants and the hospitality industry in Truckee to implement energy and water saving measures. The District has provided most of the Truckee restaurants with energy and water saving pre-rinse spray valves. Staff has set up a pilot to test and demonstrate the use of dimmable fluorescents in restaurants and Truckee's hospitality industry. Green Builder Program: Green Builder/Installer District Staff currently serves on the Town of Truckee's Green Building Committee which has been working to educate the community about green building and including green building options in the Town's General Plan and Development Code process. Staff has been involved in several Truckee green building projects to help integrate green features into the project design. Staff is working on ideas on how the District can move forward to help the community move in the direction of green building to save energy and water and costs and improve the Truckee economy. Website Program: Power of Conservation District Staff has been working on upgrading the website to include more information about conserving energy and water. The District recently brought Switchback Marketing & PR on board to help the District move forward in the development of a "Power of Conservation" element to the website. Switchback is recommending that the District create a "Green Challenge" program to bring District customers in the fold of implementing more conservation measures. Million CFL Program: The District has been giving away 1,000s of CFLs to low-income and affordable housing project tenants. Also, CFLs have been given out at various events and to various groups and organizations and schools to distribute them. Staff has ordered 2,000 12-packs of CFLs to give out at this year's May 24, 25 Truckee Home & Building Show. Staff plans to provide District businesses with 12-packs of CFLs too. LED Light Swap: The District gave away 500 strands of LED X-Mass Lights to customers last December. The LED Light Swap Program allowed District customers to swap out up to three strands of old, inefficient Holiday light strands with new, LED lighting. The program was very successful with all 500 strands being given out over a few week period prior to the Holiday. 4. FISCAL IMPACT Funds for these projects are included in the approved Fiscal Year 2008 operations budget. 5. RECOMMENDATION That the Board accept the 2008 Conservation Program Report. Michael D. Holley, General Manager