Innovator Pilots
Communities that are leaders with respect to their energy and greenhouse gas reduction can stretch their creative approaches even further with PG&E's Innovator Pilots. Local, regional and sub-regional governments and nonprofits are eligible on a competitive basis for funding for projects that test, demonstrate and measure innovative ways to deliver energy savings.
PG&E selected seven projects through the first solicitation process in December 2009 and eight projects through the second solicitation process in June 2011. Each project is one to three years in length. At the end of the projects, PG&E will work with our Innovator Pilot implementers to distribute the findings of each pilot.
2011 Projects
The Community Development Commission of Mendocino County (CDC) is developing a program to assist Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) in facilitating market transformation within their internal operations and in hard to reach communities by embedding energy efficiency practices into its policies and procedures.
StopWaste.Org will create a model policy framework to demonstrate transparency about the energy efficiency of Alameda County’s residential and commercial buildings. This project aims to reduce energy usage and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions while supporting market transformation in favor of more energy efficient buildings.
The Cities of Albany, Benicia, El Cerrito, Moraga, Orinda, Piedmont & San Pablo, in coordination with Strategic Energy Innovations (SEI), aim to determine if Partner Cities can effectively and efficiently identify and implement energy management systems and practices that have been challenging for small cities to set up and maintain.
Santa Clara County in partnership with Stanford University and Kitchell CEM, Inc. will develop a program to create energy benchmarking standards specifically for various types of correctional facilities.
San Luis Obispo County will test the concept that “group purchasing of Energy Efficiency” for small and medium businesses is cost-effective.
The City and County of San Francisco will study opportunities for transforming the refrigeration market so that newer, more efficient refrigeration equipment can become a more cost-effective option for these businesses.
The Redwood Coast Energy Authority will launch the Redwood Neighborhood Energy Challenge (RNEC) concept, which will engage neighborhoods and individuals in Humboldt County to reduce energy consumption on behalf of a local school
Sustainable Napa County will develop, test and evaluate strategies to educate building maintenance staff and occupants about systems, procedures and day-to-day behaviors that will improve energy efficiency, assure comfort, reduce operating costs and reduce GHG emissions.
2010 Projects
Alameda County Office of Education will implement a countywide program that will provide local school districts with energy managers who coordinate facility energy audits and benchmarking, identify potential energy savings opportunities, and provide guidance on financial incentives.
Chico will implement a program to reduce residential energy consumption through a combination of retrofits and education to encourage behavior change.
Oakland, Berkeley and Emeryville will collaborate with QuEST to integrate energy-efficiency services to the commercial community by combining audits for lighting efficiency, space conditioning improvements, renewable energy and demand management strategies into a single transaction to maximize reductions and minimize client costs.
Oakland, Berkeley and Emeryville will also work with QuEST to collaborate with tenant and landlord groups to identify and pilot technical, informational and policy solutions to address the split incentive problem.
San Jose will launch the Community Energy Championship Fund that will provide mini-grants to support small, local, and innovative social marketing campaigns designed to achieve significant and lasting behavior change surrounding energy efficiency.
San Jose will also implement a program that will allow a limited number of units undergoing standard retrofits through the City’s Single Family Housing Rehab program to receive comprehensive energy-efficiency retrofits, traditionally absent from these programs.
Sierra Business Council will launch the Green Prosperity Workforce Development Program that will provide training and outreach to develop grassroots leadership in Latino and Native communities, provide green workforce training, and enhance energy use information and management for small businesses and municipalities.
