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Winners of the 2nd Annual San Diego Excellence in Energy (SANDEE) Awards Announced

Posted on: Thursday, 16 February 2006, 21:00 CST

SAN DIEGO, Feb. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- The San Diego Regional Energy Office (SDREO) today announced the winners of its second annual San Diego Excellence in Energy (SANDEE) Awards. Among those recognized were the San Diego Unified School District, David Kassel, Kyocera, Jeff Katz Architecture, University of California San Diego, San Diego Convention Center Corporation, and Richard Caputo.

The SANDEE Awards are presented annually to outstanding business, government and institutional projects, persons or activities that achieved significant energy savings through energy efficiency, energy conservation or renewable energy measures in the County of San Diego.

In recognizing the winners, Irene M. Stillings, executive director of SDREO said, "Through the SANDEE Awards, we are raising awareness about those who are doing their part to help ensure a sustainable energy future for our region. By their examples, we hope to encourage others to do the same. Whether it's installing a solar electric system, turning out lights when not needed, or retrofitting an entire building with more efficient materials and equipment, anything we do to save energy now will pay huge dividends for our children and grandchildren."

2005 San Diego Excellence in Energy -- Award Winners

Outstanding Organizational Achievement -- San Diego Unified School District

The San Diego Unified School District received top honors for continuing to be a leader in energy efficiency and renewable energy. The district implemented the largest photovoltaic project in any school district nationwide with over 2,000 kW of solar electric power at 14 different schools. They also received ENERGY STAR certificates for nearly 200 facilities for meeting the EPA's energy efficiency requirements. The district estimates that since its energy savings program started in 1995, total energy usage has decreased by 55 percent, saving the district about $15 million.

Outstanding Individual Achievement -- David Kassel, Cedar Fire Rebuilding Resource Group

With the help of volunteers, David Kassel has been assisting October 2003 wildfire survivors rebuild their homes more efficiently which should result in about 200,000 kWh of energy savings annually. This was accomplished through outreach, workshops and meetings organized by the Cedar Fire Rebuilding Resource Group (CFRRG), which Kassel founded. Losing his own home in the Cedar Fires, Kassel himself rebuilt using a radiant barrier, tankless water heater, automated lighting and temperature controls, ENERGY STAR appliances, and a 5 kW photovoltaic system.

Special Achievement in Energy by a Medium to Large Business -- KYOCERA

Kyocera's "Solar Grove" uses a network of 25 solar trees that also provide shade to a 186-vehicle parking lot. The solar trees or 235 kW photovoltaic system will generate 420,867 kWh per year, saving approximately $50,000 in energy costs annually. Solar Grove is the largest privately owned photovoltaic system in San Diego County, and serves as a symbol of Kyocera's goal of making the San Diego-Tijuana region an important hub in the North American solar industry.

Special Achievement in Energy by a Small Business -- Jeff Katz Architecture

Jeff Katz Architecture served as the lead in making the City of San Diego's George L. Stevens Senior Center 28 percent better than California's 2001 Title 24 Building Standards. The building uses dual pane low-e windows, natural daylighting, high efficiency HVAC units, lighting that is 26 percent better than Title 24, water-efficient landscaping, and a 7.3 kW photovoltaic system. The center also engaged in a two-year Green Tags contract that will ensure generation equal to 100 percent of the building's remaining electrical use from renewable wind power. Nearly 75 percent of the project's construction waste was diverted from landfill disposal by recycling and reusing materials. A team effort, the City of San Diego was also recognized for its leadership in spearheading the project.

Special Achievement in Energy by a Government or Institution -- University of California San Diego

The University of California San Diego (UCSD) refurbished its oldest and largest steam turbine powered chiller with a 3 MW steam turbine electrical generator, resulting in a 10 percent increase in operating efficiency and a 25 percent reduction in steam required for cooling. The purpose of the project was to maximize the effectiveness of the captured waste heat from the campus cogeneration plant by increasing energy effectiveness of the combined chiller and power generating system. The project reduced load by over 565,000 therms per year in natural gas and over 35 million kWh per year in imported electricity, saving UCSD about $3.5 million annually in total energy costs.

Special Achievement in Energy by a Nonprofit -- San Diego Convention Center Corporation

After analyzing over 100 combinations of chiller equipment, the San Diego Convention Center Corporation, with the help of Next Edge Inc, chose a system based on energy efficiency and life cycle cost instead of lowest price. SDCCC replaced 3,400 tons of absorption chiller machines used for their venting and air conditioning needs, with three new chillers, an upgraded energy management system and over 20 variable frequency drives. This resulted in an annual energy savings of $344,000 and a reduction of energy consumption by 2.9 million kWh per year. The new systems are two times as efficient as the average central plant operating in San Diego.

Special Achievement in Energy by a Homeowner -- Richard Caputo

After his home was destroyed in the Cedar Fires, Richard Caputo rebuilt with energy efficiency and renewable energy in mind. His new 1,712 square foot home uses 25 percent less energy than required under California's Title 24 Building Standards. The home has a solar water heater that provides 75 percent of its hot water, a solar water heating panel that heats a well-insulated hot tub, and a 2.5 kW photovoltaic system that provides 90 percent of the home's electricity. The home's one-quarter acre garden uses a gray water system that captures 50 percent of the house water for use in a drip irrigation system.

The home was also constructed with a passive direct gain solar design that provides 50 percent of the home's heat during the winter. With a pellet stove using wood by-products providing the remaining half, Caputo's home is now heated using only renewable energy.

Runners-up Other organizations and individuals who were recognized included: * Global Energy Network Institute (GENI) for the development of the KLD Global Climate 100 Index, a list of 100 companies that will provide near-term solutions to global warming and climate change through renewable energy, alternative fuels, and energy efficiency * Lopez Engineering, Inc. for a 60 kW photovoltaic system and display at the Fallbrook Public Utility District's headquarters, providing 33 percent of the building's energy * Marriott Mission Valley for energy efficiency and demand response at their 350-room hotel, which saved 714,690 kWh * Naval Air Depot, North Island for their Process Improvement Project, which identified opportunities for energy efficiency and demand reduction, saving over 3.6 million kWh and 28,126M Btu Judging

All submissions were evaluated by the following local energy and planning experts:

* Scott Anders -- Administrative Director, Energy Policy Initiatives Center, University of San Diego School of Law * Robert J. Gilleskie C.E.M. -- Resource Efficiency Manager, Tetra Tech EMI, Inc * Stephen Kapp C.E.M., LEED-AP -- Technology Resources Manager, San Diego Regional Energy Office * Robert R. Miller C.E.M., PM, CCP -- Energy Engineer (Retired) * Christopher Weixelman P.E., LEED-AP -- Senior Mechanical Engineer Project Manager, Randall Lamb

The awards presentation was held at the Rock Bottom Restaurant & Brewery in downtown San Diego. The San Diego Business Journal was the official media sponsor for the 2nd Annual SANDEE Awards. For more information on the SANDEE Awards or saving energy, visit http://www.sdenergy.org/.

The San Diego Regional Energy Office (SDREO) is an independent, nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation that helps residents, businesses and public agencies save energy, reduce grid demand and generate their own power through a variety of rebate, technical assistance and education programs. SDREO also provides the community with objective information, research, analysis and long-term planning on energy issues and technologies. For more information, visit http://www.sdenergy.org/ or call toll-free 1-866-SDENERGY. We are working for a sustainable energy future.

San Diego Regional Energy Office

CONTACT: Media, Tom Geldner, +1-858-244-1184, tom.geldner@sdenergy.org,or Program Contact, Ashley Watkins, +1-858-244-1190,ashley.watkins@sdenergy.org, both of San Diego Regional Energy Office

Web site: http://www.sdenergy.org/

Source: PRNewswire

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