Energy Efficiency

CTY HALL — The City Council this week authorized city planners to create a plan to guide increased energy efficiency and conservation at public facilities. The plan is required as part of the city's receipt of $1.88 million in federal stimulus funding for energy-efficient retrofits of city buildings and public education efforts. On Tuesday, council members allocated up to $160,000 for a temporary employee who would help create the plan. Money for the position, which is funded for a year, comes from federal stimulus funding and state fees charged to all utility customers.

DOWNTOWN — Four properties this year were the first in Glendale to be certified by the nation’s leading evaluator of environmentally sustainable development, a shift utility officials said could herald the turning of a green leaf for the city. The properties include a 22-story office tower at 500 N. Brand Blvd. that received gold certification, according to the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED, standards. While the council lists one Glendale development on its website of certified properties, it has notified city officials that buildings at 300, 400 and 450 N. Brand Blvd.

CITY HALL — The City Council today will consider paying a consultant $100,000 to continue work on reducing energy and water use among the city’s affordable-housing developments. David Blanke, a “green consultant,” would help up to seven of the city’s affordable-housing projects incorporate environmentally friendly practices to meet green building standards, according to the proposal. “We’ve been trying to get as green as we can,” said Mike Fortney, housing project manager for the city.

CITY HALL — The Department of Energy announced Tuesday that Glendale and Burbank will each receive $20 million to help fund the installation of smart meters that track real-time water and electricity usage. Burbank and Glendale were the only cities in Los Angeles County to receive a share of the $3.4 billion in stimulus funding that President Obama on Tuesday said would support similar smart grid and other energy efficiency programs nationwide. The federal windfall would make up a large portion of the estimated $28-million cost of the electric component of Glendale Water & Power’s smart grid plan, which is estimated to come in at about $35 million for the system development and meter installation, officials said.

Glendale Unified receives energy rebate The Glendale Unified School District will receive a rebate of $615,000 from Glendale Water & Power for making more than $4 million in energy-saving upgrades at four area schools, according to a statement released by the power company. The rebate is part of Glendale Water & Power's Operation School House public-benefit program, which provides local schools with incentives to complete pre-approved energy saving projects.

I was out on the bike the other day like I am every day and was pleasantly greeted with new sharrows — street markings that indicate shared vehicle and bike lanes — on Chevy Chase between Wilson Avenue and Adams Street. Though I appreciate all the sharrows showing up on newly repaved city streets, these I am particularly grateful for, as Chevy Chase is a relatively busy, main road. Every few yards drivers are clearly reminded there are bikes on the road with them. I am grateful to the City Council, the Glendale Safe and Healthy Streets program and other participating departments that continue to keep cyclists' safety in action, and not just in mind.

NORTHEAST GLENDALE — Glendale Community College is doubling down on the utility industry. The college is close to expanding its Verdugo Power Academy into a larger and more industry-comprehensive "Southern California Utilities Initiative," which would house the power academy as well as new programs in wind power, energy efficiency and water treatment and distribution, officials said. The expansion was due in part to projections that indicated the utility industry would be ripe for the unemployed, said Don Nakamoto, labor market specialist for the Verdugo Workforce Investment Board, which is also part of the initiative.

Buck Wargo CITY HALL -- Glendale Community College is getting $500,000 from the city over the next three years for the construction of the Cimmarusti Science Center. The Glendale City Council approved the expenditure Tuesday night under its Public Benefit Program of Glendale Water & Power. Glendale is partnering with the college, which will incorporate state-of-the-art energy and renewable energy technologies in the building's construction.

At a time when energy costs are rising, many homeowners are seeking ways to curb their monthly utility bills, but unfortunately may be unaware of how to do so. That is where Josh Gould of Green Home Evaluation in Montrose can be of help. Gould, who recently completed and received his Building Science Thermographers Certification, has the background that can benefit any homeowners that are interested in ‘greening’ their home. Green Home Evaluation is a home performance consulting company that can provide energy solutions that not only reduce energy costs, but create a home that is more environmentally friendly.

CITY HALL — Glendale and Burbank may have been among an elite few who were awarded up to $20 million in federal money for their smart-grid projects, but they’ll have to put up the matching funds to get them, officials said Tuesday. Glendale and Burbank were the only cities in Los Angeles County to receive a share of the $3.4 billion in stimulus funding allocated last week by the Department of Energy to support energy-efficiency projects nationwide. Utility officials plan to use the funds to support their respective projects to install “smart” utility meters that track real-time water and electricity usage and allow for two-way communication with customers.