San Francisco has gone above and beyond California’s already rigorous buildings standards to encourage large commercial building owners to invest in energy-saving upgrades.
San Francisco aims for 100% renewable electricity by 2030 and an 80% emissions reduction by 2050. In order to achieve the latter objective, the city is targeting large municipal and privately owned buildings that consume the most energy. Expanding upon existing legislation requiring large commercial buildings to report their energy usage every year, San Francisco now requires audits that identify energy- and cost-saving opportunities. A full retrocommissioning audit provides a thorough examination of the building’s operations and identifies where the easiest and most effective upgrades can be made, with a helping hand from the city’s cash incentives.
36% reduction in commercial building emissions in 2015, compared with 1990 levels
Cities100 – 2017
Over four years, 468 buildings of 4.5 million m2 in the municipal portfolio cut energy use intensity by 18% and carbon emissions by more than 30%. In the private sector, audits identified energy savings worth $25 million and led to a 10% reduction in electricity usage in upgraded buildings.
The challenge
Buildings are responsible for almost half of San Francisco’s greenhouse gas emissions. Benchmarking energy use in existing large commercial and municipal buildings, and encouraging energy efficiency retrofits, is one way to target emissions reductions in existing building stock.
Co-benefits
Economic Energy audits for more than 800 private commercial buildings identified $60.6 million in opportunities for cost-effective energy efficiency investments, which will save building owners millions of dollars for years to come.
Environmental The average energy use intensity for buildings included in the scheme is 27% below the national average, and is the lowest of all American cities that have published benchmarking results.
Social The various energy use reporting requirements have created more than 200 jobs so far, which is likely to expand as energy efficiency becomes big business in the city.
About San Francisco
San Francisco is the cultural, commercial, and financial center of Northern California and is the fourth-most populous city in California. It has an estimated population of 870,887. A popular tourist destination, San Francisco is known for its eclectic mix of architecture, and landmarks, including the Golden Gate Bridge, cable cars, the former Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary and its Chinatown district. As of 2017, San Francisco is ranked high on world liveability rankings.
