The Wilshire Center Business Improvement District (WCBID) is a dense collection of high-rise office buildings, large hotels, regional shopping complexes, churches, entertainment centers, and diverse residential buildings. The WCBID has pledged, through the Cool District Program, to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2 percent per year until an 80% reduction below the 2008 baseline is met. As many of our daily activities involve the creation of GHG emissions, this commitment is formidable. For example:
- A single delivered mega-kilowatt-hour (MWh) of electricity represents 1304 lbs of released CO2.
- 1000 gallons of drinking water represents 16.6 lbs of released CO2.
- 1000 miles driven in a standard gasoline-burning motor vehicle represents 1333 lbs of released CO2
Reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions requires, in short, reducing energy and water consumption, vehicle miles and waste disposal. This website presents an array of strategies and measures developed by industry leaders and members of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Los Angeles Committee on the Environment (COTE). Click here to learn about how we plan to go “From Commitment to Reality”.
Our approach to GHG emission reduction starts by reducing existing building’s energy consumption. The goal is net zero energy buildings. There is a formula for existing buildings that explains our process: Energy Efficiency + Conservation + Green Solutions + Renewables = Net Zero Energy. The main issue facing us is how to reduce the carbon needs of the existing 300 billion sq. ft. of buildings in North America. Our plan could show a way to addressing this issue within the private sector. In addition, the program will act as a boiler plate for the other 37 BIDs in the City. We believe BIDs are one of the best ways to reach out to existing building owners, and where there is an area without a BID, a BID could be created.
As part of the Cool District program, CRA is funding the development of the District’s Carbon Master Plan. The plan is a way to articulate a low carbon vision for the District. The vision and plan is to transform the District into a thriving sustainable residential and business community. Building energy efficiency, renewable energy and district heating and cooling are part of the master plan. The Carbon Master Plan will also address water use, water and solid waste management, open space and gardening, bicycle sharing, and public transportation. Envision the year 2030, where buildings are retrofitted to include roof-top gardens and solar panels, one-way tertiary streets with bike paths and permeable pavement, and rain planters along primary streets to supplement the stormwater infrastructure. The plan shown here ( plan and diagrams ) is just the start of the visioning discussion that will take place throughout this year.
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