BOARD MEETING DATE: May 3, 2002
AGENDA NO. 11

Execute Contract to Cofund Energy Efficiency Project

SYNOPSIS: 

Staff recommends $25,000 funding for a field study at a magnet high school adjacent to the L.A. Zoo to assess effects of using lighter colored roofing materials to improve energy efficiency and to lessen the urban heat island effect. This study is part of a comprehensive project that will be cofunded with the City of L.A., L.A. Department of Water and Power, Lawrence Berkeley Laboratories and the California Energy Commission. Staff recommends using available funds from the AES settlement previously designated for energy efficient programs that are currently in the reserve for fleet rule implementation.

COMMITTEE: 

Stationary Source, March 22, 2002, Recommended for Approval

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

1. Reallocate $25,000 specified in reserve for fleet rules to energy efficiency programs [both categories are part of the AES settlement project] to cofund a Cool Communities field study.
   
    
2. Authorize the Chairman to execute a contract with Titan Roofing in an amount not to exceed $25,000 from the AES Settlement Fund.

Barry R. Wallerstein, D.Env.
Executive Officer

Background

Studies have shown that summer temperatures are typically higher in urban areas than in their rural surroundings due to more concrete and asphalt and the use of darker colored materials and surfaces that absorb solar energy. The difference between urban and rural temperatures is referred to as the "urban heat island" effect. Air conditioning use necessitated by the "heat island" effect may be responsible for 5-10% of urban peak electric demand during summer days. Lighter colored, more reflective or high albedo roofing material is expected to result in lower interior building temperatures and reduce electrical demand for air conditioning.

Control Measure MSC-01-Promotion of Lighter Color Roofing and Road Materials Programs

The 1994 and 1997 Air Quality Management Plan (AQMP) included a control measure, MSC-01 for lighter roofing and paving materials. Control Measure MSC-01encourages activities that lower temperatures in urban areas, such as using lighter, more reflective surface materials and increased tree planting. Much of the existing evaluation of the effects of cool surfaces and tree planting to estimate the potential of air quality benefit has been based on modeling. This is due to the expense of conducting a large-scale field study necessary to quantify ambient temperature decreases. The proposed project, which is consistent with MSC-01, will be conducted to demonstrate the reduced energy demand necessary to cool buildings that use more reflective, high albedo roofs.

City of L.A. Cool Communities Program

The City of Los Angeles has a Cool Communities Program, which seeks to implement strategies to reduce the urban heat island effect in southern California. In partnership with the California Energy Commission (CEC), the City has also implemented a Cool Roof Incentive Program which provides a cash incentive to property owners who replace an existing flat or low-sloped dark roof with high albedo roofing material.

Proposal

A field study has been developed to measure changes in the surface temperature of light colored roofing and paving materials installed at the L.A. Zoo to reduce electric energy demand. The AQMD is cofunding this study with the City of Los Angeles, Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP), Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratories (LBNL) and California Energy Commission (CEC). ENVIRON will establish the protocol for measuring and monitoring activities.

The study will be conducted at the L.A. Zoo in two phases. Phase 1 includes resurfacing 15,000 square feet of rooftop at a magnet high school building adjacent to the L.A. Zoo with a light colored roofing material, and resurfacing 100,000 square feet of parking area at the L.A. Zoo with light colored concrete. In addition, this phase also includes tree planting around the parking areas. The total cost of the project will be $250,000. This program is cosponsored by several entities, where AQMD’s contribution will be leveraged at a ratio of at least 1 to 6 with funding from the City of L.A. and USEPA. The City of L.A. will contribute over $100,000.

Phase II of the study involves conducting field measurements to determine the reduction in surface temperature of the light colored roofing and paving materials, and measure improvements in energy efficiency. Field measurements under Phase II of the project will be conducted in the summer of 2002, when the greatest benefit of cool surfaces is likely to occur. These measurements will be compared to a comparable building in the vicinity.

Sole Source Justification

Section VIII. B.2 of the Procurement Policy and Procedure identifies circumstances under which a sole source purchase award may be justified. This request for a sole source award is made under provision VIII. B.2.d.(1). The project involves cost sharing by multiple sponsors.

Resource Impacts

Total project costs include the cost of resurfacing the roofs, the cost of repaving the parking areas; the costs of tree planting, and the costs of supplying monitoring equipment and data analysis. Agencies co-funding the study with AQMD will be responsible for repaving the parking area, tree planting and part of the cost of supplying monitoring equipment and data analysis. AQMD will provide $25,000 for the estimated reroofing cost, and provide in-kind services including monitoring equipment and personnel.

Recommendation

At the March 16, 2001 Governing Board meeting, the Board approved an expenditure plan for money from the AES Settlement Fund, including $350,000 for Energy Efficiency Programs. The Board directed that funds for any project not under contract by December 31, 2001 be placed in a reserve for implementation of fleet rules; in particular Rules 1194 and 1195. Staff is recommending that $25,000 specified in reserve for fleet rules be reallocated to energy efficiency programs [both categories are part of the AES settlement project] to co-fund a Cool Communities field study at the L.A. Zoo. In addition, staff is recommending executing a contract with Titan Roofing for resurfacing the roofing with a lighter colored roofing material.

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