City of La Brea
OPPORTUNITIES FOR ENERGY CONSERVATION
City of La Brea Housing Element 2008-2014 (PDF*, 96 KB)
August 2008
Conventional building construction, use and demolition along with the manufacturing of building materials have multiple impacts on our environment. In the United States, building construction, use and demolition accounts for:
- 65 percent of electricity consumption
- 30 percent of greenhouse gas emissions
- 30 percent of raw materials use
- 30 percent of landfill waste
- 12 percent of potable water consumption
Interest in addressing these impacts at all levels of government has been growing. In 2004, the State of California adopted legislation requiring LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification for new and renovated public buildings. Some local jurisdictions have not only adopted similar standards for their public buildings, but have also recently required LEED certification for larger commercial and residential developments.
LEED certification building standards are one piece of a coordinated green building program. Why would a city adopt a green building program? Most local building standards already consider energy and stormwater issues. In addition, many jurisdictions have programs related to energy, recycling, water conservation, stormwater management, land use, and public
health. However, these programs are often overlapping and uncoordinated. One of the primary goals behind establishing a green building program is to create a holistic, integrated design approach to green building.
A green building program considers a broad range of issues including community and site design, energy efficiency, water conservation, resource-efficient material selection, indoor environmental quality, construction management, and building maintenance. The end result will be buildings that minimize the use of resources, are healthier for people, and reduce harm to the environment.
Both the public and private sectors currently offer grants, refunds, and other funding for green building. In addition, developments built to green standards assist both the owners and tenants with energy and maintenance costs over time.
The following presents a variety of ways in which Brea can promote energy conservation and green building:
- Advertise utility rebate programs and energy audits available through Edison and Southern California Gas, particularly connected to housing rehabilitation programs. Lower-income households are also eligible for State sponsored energy and weatherization programs.
- Develop green (energy-efficient and environmentally sensitive) building standards for public buildings.
- Provide incentives, such as expedited plan check, for private developments that are building green.
- Support the elimination of contamination in older buildings (lead-based paint, asbestos, etc.) during rehabilitation and code inspections.
- Promote funding opportunities for private green buildings, including available rebates.
- Promote financial resources available through the California Energy Commission for use of solar panels.
- Provide resource materials and training opportunities regarding green building and energy conservation.
- Apply green building criteria to rehabilitation of single and multi-family buildings.
Standards for green building are currently being developed at several different levels. The California Building Standards Commission is developing a State Green Building Standard; the
International Code Council is developing a residential green standard in conjunction with the Building Industry of America; and the California Energy Commission (CEC) is publishing new energy regulations which are expected to be 50% above the national energy baseline. The Brea Planning Commission is evaluating various options for a local green building ordinance to reduce the City’s carbon footprint.
A major tenet of Brea’s 2003 General Plan is to create a more sustainable community for existing and future residents. Building upon an extensive community input process, the General Plan establishes the following Vision for Brea 2020:
Brea will be a community that provides great places to live, work, learn, and play, places that respect the community’s natural and cultural resources, provide open space and public spaces that appeal to all
Breans, encourage economic vitality, and enhance the overall quality of life for residents.
In support of this vision statement, the community defined four overarching goals that embody the community’s values and will guide all decisions made pursuant to the General Plan.
Goal 1
Create an inclusive community that strives to meet the needs of residents of all ages, income levels, occupations, family types, and lifestyles.
Goal 2
Plan for the sustainable stewardship of natural resources.
Goal 3
Provide a range of mobility options that reduce dependence on the automobile.
Goal 4
Maintain a sustainable economic base to provide a solid fiscal foundation and diverse employment opportunities, and to ensure the provision of quality community facilities and services.
Policies which embody these goals for sustainability are integrated throughout the various elements of Brea’s General Plan; the following highlights but a few:
- Policy CD-1.9 Encourage new development that is organized around compact, walkable, mixed-use neighborhoods and districts to conserve open space resources, minimize infrastructure costs, and reduce reliance on the automobile.
- Policy CD-8.3 Require developers to employ sustainable approaches to development and environmentally sensitive design.
- Policy CD-12.4 Implement local transit or paratransit service to provide efficient connections from residential neighborhoods to and among urban centers and Downtown.
- Policy CD-12.5 Require new developments to incorporate transit-oriented design features, as appropriate.
- Policy CD-13.4 Require new developments to provide for the use of alternative modes of transit via internal trails or travel ways – public or private – for pedestrians and vehicles other than cars. New developments shall include such features as well-designed sidewalks and parkways, bike lanes and paths, and dedicated bus turn-outs.
- Goal CR-11 Conserve and protect water resources through water conservation standards, sustainable development practices, and water quality standards.
- Policy CR-13.5 Encourage alternative modes of transportation, such as walking, biking, and public transportation to reduce emissions associated with automobile use.
In 2002, Brea joined the Community Energy Partnership, a coalition of ten diverse southern California cities and Southern California Edison and Southern California Gas. The goal of the
Partnership is to engage communities in responsible energy use by raising awareness about energy efficiency, the importance of peak demand reductions, and renewable energy. Through the Partnership, Brea has distributed (free of charge) numerous energy-saving
products to residents and small businesses, such as compact fluorescent light bulbs, fluorescent touchiere lamps, faucet aerators, and low flow showerheads.
The Brea Redevelopment Agency was an active partner in the development of South Brea Lofts, a sustainable mixed use project consisting of 47 live/work units (10 affordable) and 7,500 square feet of retail located south of Brea’s downtown. The project sets an example of successful sustainability options in a mixed-use development, and has been awarded the California Redevelopment Association’s 2008 Award of Excellence for Sustainability; the 2007 SCAG Compass Blueprint Award for Visionary Planning in Sustainability; and the 2007 American Planning Association, Orange County section Outstanding Planning Project Award.
NEV at Brea Lofts
South Brea Lofts introduces a concept new to Brea: each residential loft unit comes with a street legal Neighborhood Electric Vehicle (NEV). These zero emission vehicles can travel 30 miles on one charge, and serve as a convenience for local trips. The NEVs are transferred with the sale of the townhome and are managed under a NEV Operating Plan by the homeowners association. In addition to the NEVs, South Brea Lofts integrates numerous additional green building features, including: an innovative storm water retention and treatment system; 85% drought tolerant landscaping; and two-stage HVAC units which
reduce household utility expenses by more than 50%.
Photo Credit Neighborhood Electric Vehicle (NEV) at Brea Lofts |
