Articles and Recognition

Sun Harbor Receives Award For Special Achievement
Sandee Award (San Diego Excellence in Energy), 22 February 2007

The 3rd Annual SANDEE Award (San Diego Excellence in Energy) was presented to Sun Harbor Marina for Special Achievement in Energy by a small business.

Sun Harbor Marina has been recognized as an outstanding project that achieved significant energy savings through the implementation of energy efficiency, energy conservation and renewable energy in San Diego County. Sun Harbor’s three buildings exceed California’s Energy Efficiency Standards, some by more than 41 percent. Other innovative measures include advanced lighting controls, high performance glass, low flow faucets, low flow shower heads and toilets. We hope that you are as proud to use the facility as we are to have received the recognition for our efforts in providing the beautiful facility while maintaining the significant energy savings.

Sandee Awards

Award Program Overview
The objective of the San Diego Excellence in Energy Awards ("SANDEE Awards") is to recognize outstanding projects and activities that have achieved significant energy savings and/or contributions toward the goals of the San Diego Regional Energy Strategy 2030 through the implementation of energy efficiency, energy conservation or renewable energy measures in San Diego County.

Program Rationale
Regional supply constraints, rising fuel and electricity costs, load growth and increasing transportation issues within the region present challenges to businesses and consumers alike. However, these challenges also present opportunities to achieve a secure, sustainable energy future through activities that lower costs, increase profits, decrease risk, protect the environment, improve the economy, and enhance our quality of life. The SANDEE Awards committee feels that it is important to recognize those organizations and individuals who are working to overcome these challenges.

Award Categories
The SANDEE Awards recognize participants in the following categories:

Qualifying Activities

The SANDEE Awards may recognize notable energy achievements occurring in buildings (residential and non-residential), transportation, infrastructure (water, energy, telecommunications, waste), education, advocacy and/or outreach. Methods for these achievements may include projects, programs, products and/or services. These achievements may include one or more of the following applications: energy efficiency, energy conservation or renewable energy.

Award Eligibility

Selection Criteria
Nominee submissions will be evaluated in the following areas:

Selection Committee
Each nomination will be carefully reviewed by an Awards Selection Committee consisting of energy experts from the public and private sectors.

Awards
All Award winners will be determined and recognized at the Annual SANDEE Awards Reception. All immediate winner runner-ups will also receive invitations to the Reception. It is not a requirement of the Program that all potential awards be given. Other prizes for each award may be given by sponsoring organizations at their discretion. All Award winners will receive mentions in the California Center for Sustainable Energy newsletter and website.

2006 SANDEE AWARD WINNERS

Outstanding Organizational Achievement – Johnson & Johnson Research and Development
Johnson & Johnson received top honors for their overall commitment to environmental stewardship. J&J’s research and development facility in La Jolla has made outstanding achievements in energy and CO2 reduction through the installation of a 203 kW AC photovoltaic system and a 2.2 MW cogeneration system, purchasing carbon offsets, implementing energy efficiency measures to make the site carbon neutral, and LEED certified. Through these measures, Johnson & Johnson has saved approximately 15,327,000 kWh and $950,000 annually. Johnson & Johnson clearly lives up to their company credo, which states, “We must maintain in good order the property we are privileged to use, protecting the environment and natural resources.”

Outstanding Individual Achievement – Dr. Rob Wilder
“Living clean is easy and fun!” So says Dr. Rob Wilder, who applies this mantra to both his personal and professional life. At home, Dr. Wilder has installed photovoltaics, Solar Water Heating and Solar Pool Heating technologies. In addition Dr. Wilder has begun work on a pneumatic hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) that will run completely by solar power. At work, Dr. Wilder is responsible for starting the first clean energy stock indexes. Both WilderHill Clean Energy Index (symbol: ECO) and WilderHill New Energy Global Innovation (symbol: NEX) have been received well by Wall Street. Dr. Wilder still finds time to get out into the community and promote the importance of sustainability. You can find him being interviewed for the Discovery Channel or teaching a course at UCSD.

Special achievement in Energy by a Medium to Large Business – Pfizer, Inc., La Jolla Laboratories
Consistent with their corporate mission of improving the health and wellness of people worldwide, Pfizer Inc. considers effective management fo natural and workplace environment to be one of their highest priorities. To achieve these goals, Pfizer has instituted the Energy Efficiency Initiative (EEI). The EEI consists of a group of projects focused on managing and reducing energy consumption at the La Jolla campus including chiller optimization, installation of a 240 kW photovoltaic system, a “Lights Out Campaign,” and the “Slash Your Sash Program.” These activities allowed Pfizer Inc., to reduce their electricity use by 16 percent and natural gas use by 35 percent—saving an estimated $1,605,154.

Special Achievement in Energy by a Small Business – Sun Harbor Marina
Sun Harbor Marina is the first LEED certified marina in the world. All the building exceed California’s Energy Efficiency Standards, some by more than 41 percent. Sun Harbor had building commissioning done to ensure that all equipment was installed and working correctly. Concern over the environment lead the owner, Mary Lou LoPreste, to rebuilding the old marina using sustainable environmental practices. To conserve natural resources, bamboo flooring, compressed sorghum cabinets, and insulation made from recycled blue jeans were used. Other innovative measures include advanced lighting controls, high performance glass, automatic drip irrigation and low flow faucets, show heads and toilets.

Special Achievement in Energy by a Government or Institution – State of California, Department of General Services (San Ysidro DMV)
The Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) in San Ysidro recently opened its state-of-the-art, 14,656 square-foot building and is seeking LEED Gold Certification. By incorporating energy efficiency and energy conservation, the estimated annual energy savings will be 34 percent greater than required by California Energy Efficiency Standards. This project demonstrates innovative HVAC technologies, under floor air distribution system and thermal displacement ventilation. In addition, the DMV has 5.4 kW photovoltaic system, energy efficient fluorescent and high-pressure sodium lights, and 50 percent of the building’s construction waste was recycled.

Special Achievement in Transportation – University of California San Diego
In 2006, UC San Diego implemented its “Sustainable Fleet Management Plan” with the goals of reducing Green House Gas Emissions, saving energy and decreasing reliance on fossil fuels. In keeping with these goals, the University purchased 225 electric or “zero emission vehicles” (ZEV) and 32 hybrid vehicles for its fleet. The University also converted to a blend of ultra low sulfur bio diesel for its diesel fleet eliminating more than 70 metric tons of CO2 emissions and reducing sulfur emissions by 97 percent. This project has successfully reduced green house and toxic gas emissions, reduces maintenance costs and led to removal of gas burning vehicles on campus.

Special Achievement in Energy by a Nonprofit – Zoological Society of San Diego
The Wild Animal Park is home to the Arnold & Mabel Beckman Center for Conservation Research and Science. The Beckman Center was designed as an animal and plant conservation research center and as a facility that puts energy conservation first. The Center uses a combination of day lighting strategies, high efficiency equipment, systems controls and a well insulated building envelope. The project also includes a 32 kW photovoltaic array on an adjacent hillside. The resulting savings are 338,824 kWh, 5,230 therms and $42,495 annually.

Special Achievement in Energy by a Homeowner – Ingrid Coffin
To Ingrid Coffin, living green means embracing products and lifestyles that do not deplete natural resources. At her home, the aptly named “Blue Sky Ranch,” she practices sustainable behaviors that make living green a high priority. Among her efforts are the installation of five photovoltaic systems totaling 26 kW, organic gardening, composting and recycling. In rebuilding after the Cedar Fire, Ingrid literally recycled an entire house.

Runners-up
Other organizations and individuals who were recognized included:

Judging
All submissions were evaluated by the following local energy and planning experts:

 

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