UCB and City of Berkeley on Reducing GHG Emissions

Former DAPAC Chair Will Travis spoke about the relation between the City of Berkeley and the University of California, Berkeley. He also said that reducing CO2 emissions to counteract global warming is one of the most important goals for the City. I thought it would be useful to compare the City’s implementation of Measure G (aiming to reduce the city’s greenhouse gas emissions to 80% below 2000 levels) to UCB’s more aggressive commitment to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by the year 2014.[1]

The UC Berkeley Climate Action Partnership Report contains useful economic analysis, charts, and graphs. It illustrates how by taking action to reduce CO2 emissions, the UCB campus can reap the following benefits[2]:

• Reduce campus energy costs
• Collaborate with local communities and the City of Berkeley in implementing Measure G
• Implement GHG reduction technologies developed by campus researchers
• Prepare for future climate regulations and energy price volatility
• Create demand for low-cost renewable energy technologies through its purchasing power
• Appeal to a campus community that has a strong culture of environmental ethics

TRANSPORTATION
One of the areas where UCB and the City of Berkeley can work together is in the transportation sector. The City of Berkeley’s study found that transportation accounted for 47% of total emissions, commercial buildings 27% and residential buildings 26%.[3] As for UCB, steam usage is the single largest source of GHG emissions, representing roughly 40% of total emissions, followed by electricity (30%), air travel (11%) and faculty and staff auto commute (9%).[4]

UCB’s Feasibility Study Final Report, makes many suggestions for creating incentives for alternative transportation. Many of these may be more effective in concert with the city of Berkeley. One key component is reducing single-occupancy vehicle commuters, and consequently emissions. The Study states that the benefits of discouraging single drivers are significant, ranging from extensive cost savings related to parking infrastructure, to
reduced traffic congestion in the local community. The following strategies can help[5]:

• Assign a “carbon fee” to parking permits. Funds from this fee collection would go to GHG reduction projects on campus.
• Install PV arrays over parking structures with flat roofs.
• Reduce parking permit costs to drivers of alt fuel or high MPG vehicles.
• Remove Central Campus parking and replace with small electric shuttles or “yellow bike” programs to allow off-campus parking commuters to travel to campus.
• Create further incentives for the BEAR PASS using the “carbon fee” concept to subsidize low or no-cost sustainable transport to and from campus.

ECONOMICS
The importance of immediate investment is emphasized by the finding that, if the university invests today, it can save approximately $16 million in today’s terms in eight years.[6]

The campus should complete the grant funding request of up to $3 M or more for energy
efficiency projects from the Higher Education Energy Efficiency Partnership, convened through the UC Office of the President. The funding is earmarked for energy efficiency projects. Projects that will be finished, measured and verified by December, 2008 can qualify.

In addition, there are alternative funding strategies that rely on capital external to UC Berkeley. These may also be used by the City of Berkeley. One source is funding from the California Energy Commission's Energy Efficiency Financing Program. It funds many types of projects (e.g., lighting, building insulation, heating and air conditioning modifications, automated energy management systems/controls, energy generation including renewable energy projects and cogeneration) up to $3 million per application at 3.95% interest. [7] Many of UCB and Berkeley’s infrastructure projects fall into this category.

SUMMARY

UCB and the City of Berkeley appear to have the same goal in mind—reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and have many proposals which overlap between UCB and the City. For example, adding a carbon fee to parking permits would raise money for both institutions while working to reduce single-occupancy vehicles in the City. Even working towards one such goal together may prompt larger projects to reduce CO2 emissions, perhaps even a project qualifying for funding from the California Energy Commission's Energy Efficiency Financing Program.

- Posted by Jayni Foley

[1] UC Berkeley Climate Action Partnership, Feasibility Study 2006 - 2007 Final Report (July 2007), http://sustainability.berkeley.edu/calcap/docs/CalCAP%20Report%20FINAL%202007.pdf
[2] Id. at 8.
[3]http://www.berkeleyclimateaction.org/Content/10043/Chapter2Berkeley039sGreenhoueGasEmissionsEstimates.html
[4] UC Berkeley Climate Action Partnership Feasibility Study at 24-25.
[5] Id. at 44.
[6] Id. at 34.
[7] Id. at 42.