sustainable growth 2009

8/14/2019 Sustainable Growth 2009

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The City of Houstons Path

Toward Sustainable Growth

City of Houston

September 2009


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Population growth at 1.9% per annum

Regional GDP growth of 5.08% per annum (contrasted with a

1.1% annual kwh growth from 1998 2003)

The City of Houston has reduced its kwh use by 5.8% from 2004

through 2008 even as services have expanded

Outcome of Existing Initiatives


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Framework for Sustainability

Buildings: Reduce energy consumption per square foot through increased energy

efficiency measures

Transportation: Migrate to more fuel efficient, cleaner vehicles, fleets across our

region

Infrastructure: Increase energy productivity utilization and long-term reliabilityfor major infrastructureLED Traffic LightsCombine Heat and Power

Energy Supplies: Embrace renewable energy sources to provide reliable, secure

power for our region leveraging

Wind resourcesSolar resources

Environmental Stewardship:Divert waste flow away from landfills to recycling pathsImprove water and air quality across the regionPlant a million trees


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Defining Sustainable Growth Initiatives

Segment Programs for Change

Buildings Building codes

Green Building standards

Energy efficiency work

Transportation Hybrid vehicles

Flexible work hours

Infrastructure Traffic Signal LEDs

Combined Heat & Power

Sewer Collection System

Grass Root Change Houston Green Expo

CFL campaigns

Energy Supplies andEnvironment

Renewable Power

Million Trees Plant

Woody Waste Recycling

Benzene Reduction Plan

Surface Water Quality


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More Stringent Building Codes

Comprehensive upgrade of the citys building codes to make Houston a leader in

energy efficiency for new construction and major renovations.

ASHRAE 90.1 2004 plus local amendments for commercial construction

Latest standard with software compliance support Increased energy efficiency amendments: cool roofs, efficient lighting Approved by City Council; code in effect August 1, 2008

IECC 2006 plus additional energy efficiency steps for residential construction 15% increase in energy efficiency (Energy Star standard for homes) Approved by City Council; code to go into effect 10/09

Enhancing Citys Code enforcement to support code transformation Summer workshops on new code; increased staff and training Green building resource center to help educate builders and owners


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Residential Energy Efficiency Program

Implement a neighborhood by neighborhood energy efficiency program targeted

at low income, hard to reach homeowners to reduce kwh consumption.

Approximately 7,000 homes weatherized across 12 different neighborhoods Participation rates approach 50%; home owner satisfaction high

12 18% weather adjusted kwh reduction; high as 20% over summer months

Efficient implementation model; contractors go house to house

Agencies in Action program for more comprehensive retrofits including appliancereplacements (old refrigerators recycled)

City administered program funded by Transmission & Distribution company, TIRZ

funds and Affordable Housing funds

Working with Clinton Climate Initiative and REPs to develop mass market program


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Embracing Renewable Energy Sources

Large scale purchases of Renewable Power delivered to City of Houston facilities vialong term contracts.

COH is to purchase 2 billion kwh (50 MW of power) as of July 1, 2009 from Texas

Wind Farms, at a fixed wholesale price of 7.5 cents / kwh to be delivered over thenext 5 years. This will supply 32% of our annual requirements for electrical load.

The EPA ranks the City of Houston as the number one municipality in terms of the

amount of renewable energy purchased.

Top 10 of all firms including public and private sector (including such firms asIntel, WholeFoods) Texas leading the nation in Wind power deployment. Nearly 8000 MW of installed

capacity. Represents ~6-7% of states power generation. CREZ should enable

18,000 MW


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Solar Initiatives

Accelerating deployment of solar power in the Houston region

The City is finalizing a long term power purchase agreement for a 10 MW solar

plant with NRG; purchasing power at a blended cost of 8.2 cents per kilowatt-hour

Small scale demonstration sites: City code enforcement, City Hall Annex, SPARC

Park at Tinsley Elementary school and Discovery Green Park

100 kW solar system for the George R Brown Convention Center funded by

Houston Endowment ($850K), BP ($100K), and CenterPoint ($50K).

Total of 160 kW of solar power installed on City facilities

In final negotiations for a 10 MW utility scale solar farm in the Houston

area to serve local load.


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DOE Solar America City Initiative

Establish a sustainable infrastructure for Houston led by an Advisory Council withrepresentatives from COH, academia, endowment, and private sector. BP Solarproviding $200,000 in panels as matching funds to DOE grant.

Solar neighborhood program: Building 10 near zero energy homes in the Houston

Hope neighborhoods that include 1-2 kw rooftop solar.

Workforce: Green Curriculum established at the HCC including solar and energy

efficiency

K-12 Programs: Demonstration site at SPARC Park (Tinsley Elementary School),

working with HISD to integrate solar

Public Outreach: Houston Solar web-site; City of Houston partnering with HREG tohost Solar Home Tour on October 3, 2009. www.solarhoustontx.org

Advanced Meter Deployment in region, enables peak shaving applications like solar.
http://www.solarhoustontx.org/http://www.solarhoustontx.org/


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Energy Savings Performance Work

Significantly reduce energy consumption at City facilities by 20-30% with no

upfront capital by financing through utility savings.

City of Houston one of the first to contract large scale energy efficiency work:

262 facilities, 7.1 million sq ft under consideration Office buildings, libraries, multi-service centers, police stations, fire stations,

health centers Siemens and TAC selected as ESCOs Building audits, energy efficiency work, measurement/verification Audit work underway at 3 million sq ft

Implementation of energy conservation measures of 1.6 million sq ft underway.

Financing driven by lower utility bills available to remove up-front capital costs

Center Point energy efficiency incentives available


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Green Building Program

Accelerate market transformation of Green Building through leadership, showcases,

and private sector partnership.

Mayors Resolution, passed in June 2004, requiring all new City buildings and major

renovation to be LEED certified (28 buildings, representing over 1 M sq ft LEED

projects underway)

o Looscan Library is the Citys first LEED Certified building

Mayors Green Building Advisory Committee to showcase LEED buildings in private

sector

Houston Hope homes built to Energy Star standard. 10 near zero energy homes.

LEED Quick Start to expedite permitting; graduated fee rebates with LEED certification

Over 70% of the new Class A commercial office buildings (over 50K sq ft in size)

designing for LEED classification (6 M sq ft committed), nearly half of the residential

new homes built are Energy Star.


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Energy Efficient LED Traffic Lights

Replace traffic light signals at all 2400 intersections within the city with energyefficient LEDs.

1,500 intersections completed at end of August 2009; with expectation of

completing remaining intersections by end of fiscal year (June 30, 2010)

90% reduction in electricity use by new traffic light LEDs; last significantly longer

(7 years versus 1 year)

Saves the City $10K/day or $3.6M a year in electricity costs

Upgrading heads from 8 inch to 12 inch as part of process


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Fuel Efficient, Clean Vehicles

Lead the way for Houston to migrate to hybrid vehicles with dramatic increases infuel efficiency and cleaner emissions.

Citys goal to have 50% of non-emergency, administrative fleet (2800 vehicles)

by 2010. Currently have 683 hybrids in our fleet (mostly Prius, some FordEscapes).

The City has reduced fleet fuel consumption from 9.4 million gallons in 2005 to

8.8 million gallons in 2009.

METRO is purchasing 100 hybrid buses a year through 2011 for a total of 449hybrid buses. Currently 142 in fleet by end of 2008.

Working with HAS and partners to migrate to clean fuel fleets at airport.


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Combined Heat and Power Solutions

Implement CHP solutions at Citys waste water treatment plants to increase energyutilization & reduce overall grid delivered kwh consumption.

Feasibility study carried out by HARC for 69th Street Waste Water treatment plant

showed 14% return on investment with 7 year payback. Decision to focus effort atAlmeda Sims which is in the process of major facility upgrade.

Preliminary engineering development (including environmental permit analysis)

kicked off at Almeda Sims Waste Water treatment plant for CHP solution. FY10

CIP includes a $10 million line item appropriations for project.

Use a Design-Build development process for engineering and construction project.

Applied for Department of Energy Grant to implement CHP technology at Almeda

Sims and 69th Street Waste Water Treatment Plant


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Wastewater Treatment Plants

Performance contracting at Wastewater Treatment Plants

Over 30% of the electricity and natural gas purchased by the City of Houston is

used in the treatment of wastewater. Clinton Climate Initiative facilitated having four world class consulting engineering

firms analyze four tranches of wastewater treatment plants and make

recommendations as to what BMPs should be considered by the City in a

performance contract that guarantees reduced energy consumption, fixed construction

costs and measurement and verification of the savings.

Project: Enter into performance contract(s) with ESCo(s) to obtain a guaranteed

energy savings at some or all of the Citys 39 wastewater treatment plants.Costs to be paid for with savings from reductions in energy usage.Lifetime of project: 15-20 yearsFrees up previously-budgeted Capital Improvement Plan dollars


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Improving Sewer System

Implement a comprehensive sewer pipeline renewal plan for Houstonbeginning in 2005 through 2015.

Collection system comprised of 33.5M feet of gravity collection lines, 1.5M feet of

force lines, 420 lift stations, and 39 waste water treatment plants. Increased pipeline rehabilitation and replacement rates over 10-fold from the 1990s

from ~0.25% to 3.1% 2005 forward. Renewed 4M linear feet of pipe from FY05 to

FY08.

Doubled pipe cleaning from goal of 2M feet to over 4M feet cleaned per year. Have

cleaned 17.5M linear feet from FY05 to FY08. Strengthened Ordinance including increased pump-out frequency (4 per year) of

interceptors (e.g., grease traps) and enforcement. Public education/outreach.

Positive impact: 311 calls for System Stoppages decreased from 37,405 in FY03 to

25,017 in FY08. Actual Sanitary Sewage Overflow repairs decreased from

~400/month in FY05 to ~100/month in FY08.


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Houston Green ExpoHouston Green Expo

April 16-17 2009 Reliant ParkApril 16-17 2009 Reliant Park

What is it:

1st Regional Green Expo

Featuring certified greenproducts and services

5 themes:

Green Building

Energy Efficiency

Renewable Energy

Alternative Transportation

Green Youth Zone

10,000 in attendance

24 consumer focused

education sessions

Nationally known speakers:

David Freeman and Joseph

Romm

Free and open to the public

Green is here today!

Green makes economic

sense and is good for ourenvironment

Green products and services

are available today

Living and working a greener,

more sustainable lifestyle good

for us individually, ourbusinesses, our community,

our world


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CFL Campaigns

Promote and accelerate the adoption of CFLs among Houston homeowners andbusinesses.

Door to door hand-out of 250,000 CFLs to Houston home owners via Mayors

Youth Summer Job Corp in partnership with Centerpoint

4 bulbs per house plus energy efficiency tips given to estimated 62,500 homes

across Houston

CenterPoint funding $670K for the effort including bulbs and administration costs

Power to People web site to promote and educate public on energy efficiencyconcepts


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Million Trees Plus Planted Goal

Significantly increase the number of trees planted and sustained across the regionthrough a public private partnership.

Significant ramp up in tree plantings from 814 per year prior to 2003 to over 62,600

planted from 2004 through 2007 by City of Houston.City of Houston has planted approximately 120,000 trees from October 2008

through August, 2009.

$750K in budget to water and maintain trees in 2009. 2000 medians identified for

plantings.

Public Private partnership includes Apache, Trees for Houston, Greater Houston

Partnership to achieve the Million Trees planted goal.

TXDOT Houston plantings: $28.5M funding ($22.8M federal earmark and $5.7M

state matching) beginning in 2002. Planted 600K trees from 2002 through 2008.

130K trees contracted to be planted in 08/09. Additional 200K trees planned in

09/10. Total 930K trees planted in the Houston area.


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Diversion of Waste from Area Landfills

Implement a City wide recycling program to divert woody waste and yardwaste from area landfills.

Potential for diverting up to 150K tons per year or approximately 20% of our waste from

area landfills.

Currently Renegotiating long term Put or Pay contracts with area landfills to enable even greater

diversion of waste from area landfills.

Setting up mulching / composting facilities in each quadrant of the city to take and

process waste. Three quadrants completed and receiving material.

Lower tipping fees of $12.45 per ton at mulching facility versus $32 per ton at

landfill results in overall annual savings of $2.0 Million to the City.

Successful pilot of 47,000 homes conducted over past 6 months. 70% reduction in

landfilled material from pilot (these areas have high concentration of green waste).

Largest recycling effort with green debris clean up post Hurricane Ike. Nearly 5.5 million cubic yards

collected and to be sent to compost, mulch, and other recycling applications.


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Implement a City wide recycling program to divert woody waste and yardwaste from area landfills.

City-wide Tree Waste Program implemented January 2009.

Potential for diverting up to 150K tons per year or approximately 20% of our waste from

area landfills.

Currently Renegotiating long term Put or Pay contracts with area landfills to enable even greater

diversion of waste from area landfills.

Setting up mulching / composting facilities in each quadrant of the city to take and

process waste. Three quadrants completed and receiving material.

Lower tipping fees $12.45 (NW & SW), $7.70 (SE) per ton at mulching facility versus $32 per ton at

landfill results in overall annual savings of over $2.0 Million to the City.

Largest recycling effort with green debris clean up post Hurricane Ike. Nearly 5.5 million cubic yards

collected and sent to compost, mulch, and other recycling applications.


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Building Materials Reuse Warehouse

Open and accepting material.

Located at 9003 N. Main Stree

Hours: Monday Friday, 8:30am-4:30pm, closed 12pm-1pm each day.

Builders, contractors, remodelers and the general public may all drop off reusable materials.

Items are then made available to non-profit groups for re-use at no cost.

For more information, www.houstonreuse.org


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Bio-Bags Recycling Program implementation January 2010.

Biog-Bag meet ASTM D6400 Standards for compostable plastics

Manufactures:

US Compo Solutions / Biodegradable yard bag, Indaco / Bio-Solo bag

Jesco / Al-Pak bag, Poly America / Husky Eco-Guard bag/Ecosafe

Potential Retailers who will market the bags:

Krogers, HEB, Target, Wal-Mart, Fiesta Markets, Ace Hardware

Anticipate diverting up to 60,000 tons/year; disposal savings of approximately $2.0 Million.

Disposal savings + bio bag grass sales diverted to citys Recycling Fund to expand Automated Curbside

Recycling Program citywide.

The Chapter 39 Ordinance Solid Waste and Litter Control has been reviewed by the Regulatory Affairs

Committee and approved by City Council Agenda on 9/2/09.

City Wide Bio-Bag Recycling Program


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Increased % Participation

Increased Lbs. / Home

Glass Included

Serving 20,000 homes

Grant Funded Pilot with Recycle Bank to beginin November 2009

400 tons/month average diverted from arealandfills

Automated Recycling Program

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Participation

%

Pounds /

Home

Green Bin

Automated


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Improving Houstons Air Quality

A regional approach to reduce particularly harmful emissions such asBenzene and 1,3-Butadiene.

Scientific Task force on health effects of air pollution completed in 2006. Task

forcemembers include: Baylor College of Medicine, MD Anderson, Rice, UT Medical

Branch, UT School of Public Health. Scientific ranking of pollutants.

Benzene Reduction Plan completed in 2007. Need for reduction validated by

regional business-led task force. Goal of a 50% reduction by the companies in the

plan at about 20 sites.

1,3-Butadiene reduction of 75% at Milby Park monitor from 2004-2008 resulting

from City of Houston legal action against TPC plant located 1/3 of a mile

from the monitor.


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Ensure Quality Water Supply for Region

Implement comprehensive Source Water Protection Program for surfacewater bodies to ensure long-term quality of our water supplies.

Installed and operate 20 solar powered lake circulators (Solar Bees) to mix water near the

intake point of the Northeast Water Purification Plant. Installed and operate 3 real time water

quality monitors at Lake Houston sampling 6 water quality parameters, connected wirelessly tothe USGS and posted on their website.

New ordinance in the works (revision of Chapter 23) to prohibit discharge into Lake

Houston from boats, houses, subdivisions, others.

Partnership with the US Geological Services, $2.5M over 5 yrs, to study characteristics of Lake

Houston in response to pollutants. Impact monitoring. Public Outreach: Water Works Museum to open winter 2009. Schools and community

programs to engage public to raise awareness and educate.

External stakeholder group to convene in September 2008 to develop a regional strategy and

implementation plan for quality upstream water sources. Immediate issues include

upstream sand mining, fertilizer run-offs.

sustainable growth 2009

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