Citizens' Advisory Committee
Power Subcommittee

MINUTES

Tuesday, May 6, 2008
5:45 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
1155 Market Street, 4th Floor Conference Room
San Francisco, CA

Members
Kimia Mizany – Chair
Nick Carlin
Aaron Israel
Steve Lawrence
Winchell Hayward

Members present: Kimia Mizany (Chair), Nick Carlin, Aaron Israel

Members not present: Winchell Hayward, Steve Lawrence 

Staff: Jim Chien

Members of the Public:  Ed Dieraut

ORDER OF BUSINESS

Roll Call
 
1. Call to Order
Kimia Mizany, Chair, called the meeting to order at 5:40 pm.
 
2. Approval of Minutes
Minutes of meeting of April 1, 2008 was adopted unanimously without revision.

3. Announcements
Chair Mizany announced that the SF PUC Solar Pilot Program passed first reading at the board and it will go for second reading. In addition, she talked about one of the Combustion Turbine project alternatives that had never been considered before. This alternative proposes retrofitting of existing 3 Mirant diesel peakers. This option costs only
45 – 50 million as compared to the 270 million proposed plan and produce less pollution.  There is discussion of available options as if the Trans Bay Cable might suffice demand.

4. Public Comment
No public comment.

5.   Presentations and Discussion:

SFPUC Water Conservation Manager Dana Haasz gave an overview of the proposed Sustainable Civic Center District project and Project Manager of SFPUC Power Enterprise Masoud Vafaei was onsite to answer energy related questions.

Ms. Haasz opened the presentation by pointed out key principals of the project are:  to maximize efficiency, meet remaining resource demands, reduce waste, create vibrant, accessible and safe municipal space.  She said that the project idea generated from efficiency planning for the 525 Golden Gate building.  Why not expands it to buildings to the Civic Center area?

Ms. Haasz explained that the project goals are to reduce 80% of potable water use, 45 % wastewater discharge, 33 % annual energy use and 4450 tons of carbon reduction and  35% plus peak power demand met by renewable. The goals for water efficiency are to exceed 20% demand reduction, 80% potable water use reduction and 45% wastewater discharge reduction.  The strategies to achieve are: high efficiency fixture, climate appropriate landscaping, and rain/storm/recycled ground water for non-potable uses.  

Ms. Haasz added that water management can include rainwater collection, reflecting pond to collect and retain of surface water, subsurface storage tank, water filtration and redistribution of grey water. She demonstrated photos of retention ponds in Berlin and Paris, and Green roof in Chicago. Mr. Vafaei added that green roof will also be use as a showcase of this project.

Ms Haasz elaborated the goals for energy:  to exceed 35%  peak energy demand provided by solar and wind power; 33% annual electric use reduction (15%  energy efficiency improvements and 8% solar and wind generation) and  30% steam heat and natural gas reduction. The strategies for efficiency improvements are through lighting, heating, cooling and office equipment, Solar PV, wind turbines, energy from hot condensation/steam loop and geothermal. 

For project’s transportation goals, Ms. Haasz said, are to exceed 50% reduction in Bay area’s Green House Gas emissions from transportation including increase transit ridership, pedestrian/bike activities, car/bike share opportunity, encourage high density development on under-used lots and promote smart parking policies.

How to achieve that? She emphasized that the strategies are: street design, pedestrian only spaces, new fare policies encouraging off-peak use, enhance transit stop facilities; expanded rider share opportunity/technology and policy solutions for parking efficiency and turnover.

Ms Haasz said education and interaction is an important component of this project. There are proposed theater, restaurants, and interactive/playful/interesting education activities. She stressed the important of making the area a destination for resident and visitors, showcase of green practices.

There are a few questions on the green roofs, water conservation, BART/MUNI connection, steam loop, excluded power grid and timing for energy work.  Mr. Vafaei described the condition of the steam loop and upgrade ideas.  The exclusion of the power grid due to eight out of ten building estimated solar generation leading to no surplus. He said that the energy evaluations are planned to start this coming fiscal year.

In building heating, he mentioned that the current plan is to repair the existing steam loop as the source of heating energy for the buildings and the solar discussions have been around installation of roof mounted Photo Vortexes due to the continuous demand for electricity over the entire year not just during the heating season.

Chair Mizany asked whether there is any plan to include solar thermal for supplying hot water to buildings as a demonstration/education project. Mr. Vafaei said that the educational elements at the Education Center have not yet been developed, however the Sustainable Civic Center Task Force had been discussed demonstration of sustainable concepts and ideas that visitors can take with them for implementation at their homes or works, and renewable generation is a large part of that.  Solar water heating demonstration idea can be included in the mix of ideas for the education center planning. 

6. The meeting adjourned at 7:30 PM.