The WCBID proposes to create a Wilshire Center Cool District Alliance with the LADWP and LACRA to create a fund to implement massive energy efficiency and clean energy generation throughout the district of Wilshire Center.   The goal of the Alliance is to reduce the annual consumption of electricity, gas, and water by 40 percent district wide by 2020.   The Alliance will seek to reach a participation rate of 30 percent of the 33 million square feet of residential, office and retail space with the Wilshire Center District.   It is to be a partnering with the City of Los Angeles, Gas Company, and other major community institutions and organizations.

Wilshire Center, Los Angeles is a community of slightly over 100,000 people who work or live within a 100 acre area.   The district is characterized by a unique mix of cultural and social diversity.  

Taking Action

Climate change is a global challenge, but local decision makers have many opportunities to act in meaningful ways.   On July 19, 2007, the WCBID's Board of Directors made the pledge to reduce the district's GHG (greenhouse gas emissions)(CO2) by at least 2% per year over the next 40 years.   The District Board is committed to reducing the district's carbon emissions and recognizes that there are multiple benefits to the community including the potential for new jobs, economic development, stabilized energy costs, and reduced pressure on the grid that supplies electricity to the City.   The Plan is in line with Mayor Villaraigosa's Green LA Climate Action Plan that seeks "to lead the nation in fighting global warming."

The DWP is ready to assist with the basic energy audits of two buildings in Wilshire Center; 400 S. Berendo and 3600 Wilshire Blvd.  The audits will be completed in time for the September 17th Eco-Charette. The plan is to begin immediately to assist these buildings in solving short range energy efficiency problems, such as replacing outdated lighting & window tints, and supplying the residential building with water reducing shower head fixtures free of charge. There are approximately 900 parcels which are assessed by the WCBIC. DWP thinks that we can break out about 90 parcels per year for upgrading. The DWP will do basic audits at no cost to the building owners.

Innovations

The creation, development and implementation of the Alliance involved many innovations related to selling, delivering and financing energy efficiency.   Another concept to be explored is the formation of a purchasing cooperative for the District businesses - for environmental friendly products and energy efficiency equipment. Another concept to be explored is the use of Transit Pre-Tax dollar accounts (Parking Cash Out) to encourage more transit riders.   Parking Cash Out, or AB2109, is a State law requiring employers of fifty or more employees who lease their parking, and subsidize any part of their employee parking to offer their employees the opportunity to give up their parking space and rideshare to work instead. In return for giving up their parking space, the employer pays the employee the cost of the parking space.   Part of the program is to reach zero waste within the District.

Massive Energy Efficiency Model

The primary strategy to reduce emissions is to address the existing building stock, but many of the city's programs are not aimed at this sector.   The Alliance fills a need at addressing existing buildings of all sizes by offering a model of massive energy efficiency.

Massive energy efficiency includes traditional conservation measures such as lighting retrofits and better insulation, but it also goes much deeper.   Other measures include:

• Achieving high penetration rates in commercial, industrial, government, and residential sectors

• Obtaining critical mass for financing, and reducing marketing and transaction costs

• Emphasizing retrofits on existing buildings, and also engaging builders to build high efficiency measures into new construction

• Using all possible conservation measures including lighting, HVAC and control systems, appliance standards and building practices

• Installing distributed generation (renewable energy and combined heat & power facilities - also known as cogeneration) wherever possible and implementing demand response to reduce peak electricity use

• Creating a high profile public campaign that demonstrates strong and sustained government, private sector and citizen leadership.

Financial Innovation

The Alliance finance plan is being tailored to meet specific needs of the end user: commercial and residential consumers.  

Service Delivery Model

The Alliance will contract out a full range of engineering, technical, installation, project management, monitoring and financial services.   A stable of private energy service companies and contractors will be pre-qualified and contracted to perform energy assessments and implement energy-saving measures.   Retrofitting will be emphasized.   The financing mechanisms will enable consumers to take measures with longer paybacks, e.g. combined heat and power and photovoltaic and solar hot water installations. ‘Community Collaboratives’ is idea that would involve building managers and tenants coming together as eco-teams to assess their carbon demand, share ideas and encouragement on ways to decrease energy use, find ways to improve the quality of life in the community and then tracking those changes.

Public Awarness Campaign

The Alliance aims to achieve a participation rate of 30%.   To motivate consumers to sign up, it must deliver compelling messages tailored to key segments of consumers.   To deliver this message and reach its ambitious signup targets, an integrated marketing, communications and community organizing program will be developed to raise awareness, generate word-of-mouth communications and mobilize volunteers in the District.   Using a combination of outreach techniques, such as campaigns aimed at Community Leaders, door-to-door canvassing by volunteers and paid campaigners, online organizing, paid and earned media, and City of Los Angeles support initiatives, this goal can be reached.    If we are to achieve our greenhouse gas emission reduction target, District tenants and owners need to embrace a number of changes in their choices. As such, engaging the entire community through outreach efforts by the District, other organizational partners and community leaders is the first and single most important element of this plan.   The message should focus on the benefits people get in terms of saving money and time and social recognition from taking steps that also have the effect of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.  Our first start in our awarness campaign was the the April 22, 2008 Earth Day - Car Free Day event and the number of awarness information flyers that were over a two month period before the event.  A large portion of the District ’s population has a first language other than English and, in order to realize widespread shifts in the entire community’s behaviours with regard to energy, it will be critical to work with the unique strengths of the multi-cultural communities and communicate with these citizens in an effective way.  Our near term future project is to enhance the WC web site to show step towards accessing $$$ worth of rebates through LADWP, State, Federal and other programs.  We plan to have an easy site to learn more about these incentive programs to help make your place more energy efficient.

Current Status of Alliance

The Alliance is to be a partnership.   Pilot energy assessments are to be completed by early 2009 and a set of early commercial and residential projects are under negotiation and will start this fall, 2008.   The Alliance will coordinate with a local marketing firm on marketing and incentives and forming new partnerships with property owners and managers, businesses and citizens.   Alliance expects to launch a full array of services in early 2010.