California Utilities Promote Efficient Building Design

SMUD is one of five California utilities that are participating in an innovative statewide program that ensures buildings will be constructed green.

A quick glance at the headquarters building for the California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS) leaves an immediate impression that the structure is futuristic. The building uses solar panels in concert with properly placed glass and shading structures to take advantage of the sun and minimize electricity use. Those features are just some of the reasons the building won the statewide Savings By Design Energy Efficiency Integration Award.

Many features of the building’s energy-efficient design were enhanced through the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) commercial new construction program.

SMUD’s construction program,”Savings By Design,” provides up-front design assistance supported by financial incentives based on project performance. The program serves commercial, industrial and agricultural customers and promotes performance that exceeds the 2005 California Energy Efficiency Standards, otherwise known as Title 24.

SMUD provided financial incentives, energy analysis and technical assistance, including daylighting studies to determine how to best take advantage of natural light in the CalPERS building. While the use of glass is aesthetically pleasing, form certainly follows function as the building takes advantage of natural light to reduce electric lighting, while minimizing solar gain, or overheating from the sun. SMUD also provided the 87-kilowatt solar panel array, which was included in the architectural design.

To be eligible for Savings By Design, projects must meet certain minimum requirements that include: being at a point in development where design changes are feasible; located in the service territory of the participating utility and subject to paying the Public Good Charge for electric and/or gas service; within the definition of new construction; and aligned with the minimum program requirements. Funding for the program is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Some SMUD Savings By Design projects are:

McClellan Business Park: A lighting redesign received a $2,000 incentive and will result in annual savings of approximately $11,000 when compared to the original lighting. Also at the Park, a former military facility replaced a 450-ton chiller with an efficient 250-ton chiller and added modern high-efficiency controls. They received a $16,000 incentive and will see an estimated $12,000 in annual energy savings compared to the original installation.

Elk Grove Unified School District: The new Carroll Elementary School made energy efficiency a priority and realized a $30,900 incentive. It is estimated to save the District $30,000 in annual energy costs compared to a minimally Title 24-compliant building.

Jesuit High School: An installation of a highly efficient, water-cooled 500-ton central plant to the campus in Carmichael will save over $27,000 annually as a result of this long-term investment. The project has already reaped an energy efficiency rebate of $25,447.

Large retail store in Natomas: A new 134,000 square foot store used an extremely efficient lighting design and received a $23,000 incentive. It will save about $60,000 a year in energy costs compared to a minimally Title 24-compliant retail store.

Big box hardware retail store and warehouse in Rancho Cordova: A 117,000 square foot hardware store received a $9,700 incentive for extremely efficient lighting design and expects to save $110,000 in annual energy costs when compared to a minimally Title 24-compliant building.

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