Tag: PropTech Outlook

  • San Jose Energy Audit Ordinance

    San Jose Energy Audit Ordinance

    San Jose’s Additional Energy Requirement

    The past few years San Jose has been busy developing their city’s Energy programs.
    Like other cities, San Jose began with an annual Energy Benchmark program and then added on an Audit program. On May 14, 2021, the city of San Jose announced that
    Ordinance No. 30550 aka the San Jose Energy Audit Ordinance was now in effect. But what exactly does this mean for property owners and managers in San Jose?

    Beginning 2023 and 2024, San Jose property owners must prove that their building is
    either energy and water-efficient or has been improving annually through the
    annual Energy Benchmarking. Based on your building’s performance, you will
    either need to file a Performance Verification Report and/or an Energy Audit
    and Retro-Commissioning report by your assigned deadline. Deadlines are
    determined by property Gross Floor Area (GFA sq. ft.) and the last digit of its
    assigned Santa Clara County Tax Assessor’s Parcel Number (APN):

    Properties
    50,000+ sq. ft.

    Last
    Digit of APN

    First
    Deadline

    Subsequent
    Deadlines

    0

    May
    1, 2023

    Every
    five years thereafter

    1

    2

    May
    1, 2024

    3

    4

    May
    1, 2025

    5

    6

    May
    1, 2026

    7

    8

    May
    1, 2027

    9

    Properties
    20,000 sq. ft. – 49,999 sq. ft.

    Last
    Digit of APN

    First
    Deadline

    Subsequent
    Deadlines

    0

    May
    1, 2024

    Every
    five years thereafter

    1

    2

    May
    1, 2025

    3

    4

    May
    1, 2026

    5

    6

    May
    1, 2027

    7

    8

    May
    1, 2028

    9

    Property owners looking to file a Performance Verification Report must demonstrate and
    provide sufficient evidence that the building meets one of the following
    requirements:

    • A Temporary Certificate of Occupancy or a Certificate
    of Occupancy to prove the property is new and has been occupied for less than five years from its first filing deadline

    • A California Licensed Professional (e.g., engineer,
    architect, or qualified Auditor or Retro-Commissioning Professional) has determined that the property has achieved one or more Energy and Water standards each for a minimum of two out of three calendar years prior to their filing deadline. These standards are:

    o ENERGY STAR® and US EPA Water Scores:

    § Received a score of 75 or higher from the US EPA

    § Score has improved by 15 points or more relative to its performance during the baseline year

    o Weather normalized site Energy Use Intensity (EUI) and
    Water Use Intensity:

    § Site EUI and/or Water Use Intensity per the Benchmarking Tool calculations is 25% below the calculated mean for its given property type

    § Site EUI and/or Water Use Intensity has dropped by at least 15% relative to its performance during the baseline year

     

    If you can prove that your San Jose building has met both one Energy and one Water standard, you will only need to file a Performance Verification Report before the filing deadline. Otherwise, a Performance Verification Report must be filed in tandem with either an Energy and Water Audit or Retro-Commissioning report, or an Efficiency Improvement Measure Report. It is important to note that an Efficiency Improvement Measure Report must demonstrate that two measures were completed and reported no later than May 1st of your deadline year. The following is a list of Energy and Water Efficiency Improvement Measures set by the state of California:

    Installation of one or more of the following items on the property:

    o In accordance with the California Building Standards Code (California Code of Regulations, Title 24)

    § Common area and exterior lighting features

    § Domestic hot water heater

    § Plumbing systems

    § Outdoor landscaping and irrigation systems

    § Greywater system

    o Smart thermostat

    o Solar thermal heating/cooling system

    o Insulation on all hot water pipes in, accessible
    locations

    Replacement of one or more of the following items on
    the property:

    o All refrigerators to ENERGY STAR® Certified models

    o All gas stoves to electric induction stoves

    o All gas water heaters to an electric heat pump or tankless water heaters

    Enrollment or participation in department-approved
    actions:

    o A utility demand response program

    o An Energy and/or water utility retrofit program (e.g., rebate and/or incentive programs pertaining to upgrades)

    This extensive report is due no later than your deadline. You could apply for a 60-day extension – no more than 180 days if proof of hardship is available – but the city isn’t required to grant you this request. Given this, it’s best to get started with filing right away. Schedule a meeting with
    one of our professionals to learn how we can help you meet this new San Jose requirement. Click here or the Audit department and here for Building Upgrades.

     

    Tackling Climate Change

    “Climate change is no longer some far-off problem; it is happening here, it is happening now.” – Barack Obama

    Tackling Climate Change

    Last month, the World Economic Forum published a 14-page report titled “Urban Transformation: Integrated Energy Solution” in which they discuss how cities worldwide can become “decarbonized, sustainable, and resilient urban ecosystems” to help fight climate change. Through 13-case studies, World Economic Forum discovered that to achieve net-zero carbon goals and promote healthy communities, cities must develop integrated urban ecosystems based on two things:

        1. Environment: green building standards, low-cost green financing, and smart energy infrastructures

        2. Mobility: decarbonized public fleets and compact urban forms and planning

    Based on the 13-case studies, there were a few notable projects and initiatives that we feel cities and building owners should consider adopting. In Asia, the Jurong Lake District in Singapore is considered a leading sustainable district with its mixed-use buildings (e.g. office and retail spaces, entertainment and attractions, and residential and travel accommodations). With numerous walking and cycling paths and plans for four major rail lines, the Jurong Lake District aims to reduce locals and visitors’ reliance on cars while still meeting high sustainability targets. At the Viettel corporate headquarters in Hanoi, Vietnam, they have saved up to 20% in energy fees by making the switch to smart building technologies. Using smart building technologies, Viettel worked with ABB to set up a digital system to enable precise controlling of the building’s operational systems (e.g., lighting, heating, security, and energy).

    Over in Italy, they have developed two separate consumer programs: 110% Superbonus and Open Meter. Via the 110% Superbonus, apartment buildings, and homeowners can claim up to 110% tax credit on energy efficiency and/or anti-seismic improvements. The credit can be used over 5-year towards their taxes, sold to third parties, or used as credit on their supplier invoices. Italy’s Open Meter project aims to allow 35 million Italian consumers the ability to track and control their usage via a smart meter device that collects real-time energy data from the grid. Similar to Italy’s Open Meter project, Wellington and Auckland, New Zealand has FutureFit – a “gamified carbon calculator” that allows citizens to measure their personal climate impacts in regards to transportation, food, energy, and living. Based on their individual carbon emissions, citizens can participate in “challenges” to help reduce their carbon impact. And like any other game, you can share your progress and/or compete with friends and family.

    Whether it’s constructing new walking and cycling paths, adopting smart building systems, or releasing consumer programs (i.e., Open Meter and FutureFit) there are numerous ways that governments and the people can help fight the global climate crisis. To read the full report by the World Economic Forum, click here.

    Feliz Día de los Muertos

    Feliz Dia de Los Muertos

    Día de Los Muertos, aka Day of the Dead, is a Mexican holiday where families honor and celebrate the lives of deceased loved ones. This two-day celebration – November 1st and 2nd – has traditions inspired by Aztec religious beliefs and practices. The Aztecs believed that when a person dies, their souls would travel to Mictlán – the final destination in the afterlife. To help the souls on their journey, the living would leave offerings upon decorated tree stumps. This Aztec tradition is like the Ofrendas that Mexican families create for their deceased. Ofrendas are typically adorned with pictures of the deceased, marigolds, calaveras (sugar skulls), foods, and objects the deceased enjoyed. In Disney’s Coco, we see the bridge the deceased are traveling on is made of marigolds which highlights the flower’s importance to the celebration. Marigolds, or flor de cempasúchil, have strong unique scents that are believed to attract spirits hence why they are placed on ofrendas to help guide the departed souls home. Something that many of us may be able to relate to is how families will even clean and decorate the graves of their loved ones where they will then share meals and stories beside the graves. To best summarize, Dayofthedead.holiday writes that Día de Los Muertos “is unlike any holiday where mourning is exchanged for celebration.”

     

    Fun Fact:

    Halloween originated from the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain and was popularized in the United States by Irish immigrants around the 1850s. – History.com.

    Jack-O-Lanterns – More Than Just a Pumpkin

    Halloween originated

    Did you know that the term “jack-o-lantern” originates from an old Irish folktale? According to History.com, there is an Irish myth about a man named “Stingy Jack” who tricked the Devil twice. On the first occasion, Stingy Jack invited the Devil for a drink and convinced the Devil to turn into a coin so they could pay. Instead of paying, Stingy Jack pocketed the money and kept it next to a silver cross so the Devil couldn’t escape. The Devil only got free once he agreed would leave Stingy Jack alone for a year and not claim his soul. A year passes and when the Devil goes to see Stingy Jack, he’s tricked again. This time Stingy Jack convinces the Devil to climb a tree to retrieve a piece of fruit. Once in the tree, Stingy Jack carved the sign of the cross on the tree so the Devil could not climb down until he agreed to leave Stingy Jack alone for another 10-years. When Stingy Jack dies, it’s believed that God refused to let him in for his poor behavior. The Devil – still upset for having been tricked twice – keeps his word to not claim Stingy Jack’s soul and therefore cannot let him into hell. Instead, the Devil gives Stingy Jack a lump of single burning coal to use as light and sends him off into the night. It is said that Stingy Jack took the coal and placed it in a carved-out turnip and uses it to wander the earth for eternity. The Irish would see his ghostly figure and deemed it “Jack of the Lantern” which was later shortened to “Jack O’Lantern.” But it doesn’t end there. To scare off Stingy Jack and any other potential evil spirits, people in Ireland, Scotland, and England began carving scary faces into vegetables such as turnips, potatoes, and beets. When the Irish immigrants came to the U.S., they brought Halloween and began carving faces into pumpkins instead of turnips and potatoes. And that’s how the jack-o-lanterns as we know it came to be.

    Halloween Holiday

    Danielle’s Corner

    Halloween Halloween is easily one of my favorite holidays so even during a pandemic I’m on the hunt for fun ways to celebrate while also staying safe. Personally, I think the safest way to celebrate is virtual as you can participate from the confines of your own home. You can either attend a virtual event or host your own. Eventbrite.com has a good selection of free and paid virtual events all throughout October to get you in the Halloween mood. On October 17th, the Historic Dumfries Virginia, Inc. is hosting a free event called Halloween Tea where you’ll hear scary stories and learn fun food and drink recipes. You’ll even get a PDF copy of the recipes in case you plan on hosting a Halloween soirée of your own. Speaking of, for those who enjoy being hostess with the mostest, you can plan a virtual Halloween celebration. For those with kids, I’d recommend doing Halloween-themed Bingo or Scavenger Hunts. You can get free Halloween Bingo and Scavenger Hunt templates from teambuilding.com or create your own. Even as an adult I think that sounds like fun! Should you have little ones who enjoy the thrills of trick-or-treating, I would recommend pre-making goodie bags. Now, this may take some cooperation with your neighbors, but if they agree, you simply give your neighbors pre-filled and sealed goodie bags full of candies and treats to hand to your kids when they come knocking on Halloween night. This allows your kids to enjoy some semblance of Halloween normalcy while also helping to keep them safe. Even if you don’t have kids, you could do this with your friends. I made my boyfriend a “spooky basket” last year filled with Halloween and autumnal-themed goodies – not just food – and he loved it. Spooky baskets are a fun way for adults to almost relive the excitement of trick-or-treating. Plus, if you’re a creative soul it’s just fun to make. Have a spooktacular Halloween and if you end up doing something fun, tag us on Instagram @vertenergygroup so the Vert Community can get ideas for next year!  

    Find Applicable Energy Laws Search by Zip to Find Applicable Energy Laws

    There are over 30 cities/states with Energy Benchmark requirements – 16 have Energy Audit requirements as well! Use this free tool to check if your building has an upcoming Energy Benchmark or Energy Audit deadline.

    FIND OUT HERE »
  • Building Energy Upgrades

    Building Energy Upgrades

    Coming Soon…

    You may have noticed a new shiny logo on the VertPro main page. If you haven’t seen it yet, then we have exciting news… Vert Energy Group has made the Inc. 5000 list at #1603 for 2021’s Fastest-Growing Private Companies and #23 for the Engineering industry! Each year Inc. 5000 puts together a list of fast-growing companies in the U.S. On top of that, Vert Energy Group is going to be featured on the cover of PropTech Outlook magazine’s “Smart Building Edition.” The magazine is releasing this edition on September 15th. Let us know if you see and/or read it! Between ranking #1603 & #23 on the Inc. 5000 2021 List and landing the cover of PropTech Outlook, that’s TWO amazing new milestones for the Vert Energy Group family made up of all our members and our clients – YOU!

    Vert Energy Group is here today because of YOU! Without the support, empathy, and trust we have received from our countless clients, we wouldn’t have been able to keep going during these difficult times. Achieving these huge milestones does nothing more than fuel us to keep working hard to provide you with quality service. We at Vert Energy Group send our sincerest thank you and gratitude to you for the continued good relations. We look forward to continuing to serve you!

    Benchmarks, Audits, and RCx, what’s next?

    “Better safe than sorry” – Old Proverb

    It’s no secret that California is a hot spot for earthquakes. The U.S. Geological Survey found that the Southern California region alone had a 75% chance of being hit by earthquakes with magnitudes of 7.0 or more in the next 30-years starting in 2014. In response, Los Angeles introduced Ordinance 183893 and 184081 deemed the Los Angeles Soft-Story and Non-Ductile Concrete Retrofit Programs. The goal is simple, reduce structural deficiencies of wood and non-ductile concrete buildings to prevent potential structural failures due to earthquakes. It is important to note that property’s complying with the Non-Ductile Concrete Retrofit Program must meet three milestones upon receipt of notice to comply:

      •  3-year mark: Submit completed checklist for review to determine if the building is considered a non-ductile concrete building

      •  10-year mark: Submit evidence of retrofit and demolition plans – past and future

      •  25-year mark: Complete construction

    While the programs are currently only required for LA properties it is still highly recommended that any property that meets certain building details also perform a retrofit inspection as the property could be vulnerable. These additional criteria are as follows:

      •  Soft-Story Buildings:

            •  Consisting of 2+ stories of wood frame construction

            •  Built and/or approved for the build before January 1, 1978

            •  Containing ground floor park or similar open floor spaces

      •  Non-Ductile Concrete Buildings supported by concrete walls and/or columns

    If you have a property in NYC, you’re probably aware of the seemingly endless list of building requirements such as commonly known Local Laws 84, 33, and 87 and the lesser-known Local Law 11 (LL11) aka the Façade Inspection and Safety Program. Through the LL11, a licensed professional (LP) will conduct and report a thorough evaluation of the conditions of buildings 6-stories or more to the NYC Department of Building every 5-years. The scope of work will account for all visual distresses, structural components, thermal insulation, and HVAC and fire protection systems. Some façade details that your hired LP will look for include, but are not limited to:

      •  Cracks, chipping, abrasions, and peeling

      •  Erosion and corrosion

      •  Efflorescence

      •  Disintegrating, missing, displaced, and budging units/parts

      •  Improper repairs

    *For a full list of features – and their definitions – your LP will inspect your building for, refer to the NYC presentation of LL11 beginning on page 5.

    Any defects found during the inspection must be repaired within 90-days of the report’s filing and amended reports must be filed within 2-weeks of completion of repairs. Upon submission of your LL11, NYC DOB will classify your building as either Safe, Safe With a Repair and Maintenance Program (SWARMP), or Unsafe. Properties that are deemed Unsafe, must install building protection – such as sidewalk sheds or construction fencing – immediately. Like the LL84, 33, and 87 requirements, the LL11 has hefty violation fees:

    Chart 1:

    Reason for Violation                          Cost of Violation

    Late Filing (initial report)                       $1,000/month

    Failure to File (initial report)                     $5,000/year

    Failure to correct unsafe conditions       See Chart 2

    Failure to correct SWARMP conditions      $2,000

    Chart 2:

    Failure to Correct Unsafe Conditions               Cost of Violation

    Year 1                  $1,000/month

    Year 2           $1,000/month + $10/linear foot of shed/month

    Year 3           $1,000/month + $20/linear foot of shed/month

    Year 4           $1,000/month + $30/linear foot of shed/month

    Year 5           $1,000/month + $40/linear foot of shed/month

    Upon reaching 40-years or older, buildings in Miami-Dade, FL are recommended to perform recertification on the building to ensure continued safety. The Miami-Dade Recertification must be completed by a registered Florida LP such as an architect or engineer. During the recertification, your hired LP must evaluate the condition of the building’s general structure and electrical systems to determine its safety for occupants. A thorough report must be conducted to include and identify each building on a property. Building inspections conducted will include:

      •  A visual examination of all habitable and non-habitable areas

      •  Testing and analysis of onsite and system procedures

      •  Manual sampling and/or testing where visual examinations are unable to provide sufficient information

    *For a full breakdown of inspection requirements and definitions, refer to pages 1-6 of the Miami-Dade application/form.

    All discoveries during the examination must consider how the movement of structural components and the deterioration and age of materials correlate with one another. Final reports must be submitted within 90-days upon notice to comply and must clearly provide evidence to support the classification of the building’s current level of safety: Safe, Unsafe, Safe with Qualifications, or Safe by Restrictive Interpretation. Failure to submit your Miami-Dade Recertification on time can result in a fine of up to $10,510 and any building deemed unsafe will be vacated and potentially demolished. There are potential exemptions and extensions provided which can be located on the official Miami-Dade site.

    Fun Fact:

    Professor Henry Fielding Reid of John Hopkins University created the Elastic Rebound Theory as a result of his findings from the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake

    The Great 1906 San Francisco EarthQuake

    San Francisco EarthQuake

    In the early morning of April 18, 1906, a 7.7-8.3 magnitude earthquake shook the San Francisco Bay area. In the aftermath of the earthquake, fires spread throughout the city due to damages and unsafe construction of buildings done intentionally by city officials and contractors to save money. To make matters worse, broken water mains made it difficult for firefighters to fight the spreading fires. According to History.com, by the time the fire department was able to get control over the fires, nearly 30,000 buildings had been destroyed and roughly 3,000 people had died. The catastrophic damages caused by the earthquake and fires served as a rude awakening to city officials nationwide about the importance of ensuring the safety of buildings and their occupants through regular building evaluations and upgrades.

    Fun Fact:

    The first recorded Labor Day was celebrated in 1882 which was 31-years before the U.S. Department of Labor was formed in 1913.

    Thank You for Your Hard Work

    Labor Day Labor activists Peter J. McGuire and Matthew Maguire hold an equal claim to the proposition of Labor Day. The idea was to have a single day where Americans paid tribute to and celebrated all the contributions workers across the U.S. made to better the country. In 1887 Labor Day became officially recognized when Oregon passed a law stating February 21 as Labor Day. Other states slowly followed suit before Congress finally passed the law making the first September of each year the official Labor Day nationwide on June 28, 1894. While Labor Day was not officially recognized as a nationwide holiday till 1894, the first recorded celebration of Labor Day was September 5, 1882, in New York. The U.S. Department of Labor notes that celebrations began at 10:00 am with a parade of 10,000-20,000 working men and woman through Manhattan and lasted till 9:00 pm in Reservoir Park where 25,000 people gathered for “speeches, a picnic, an abundance of cigars, and ‘Lager beer kegs.. mounted in every conceivable place.” Since then, Labor Day festivities are less about union speeches and parades and more about cookouts, pool parties, and Labor Day Sales. Regardless, it’s important to remember the origins of the day and honor the working people.  
    Mid-Autumn Festival

    Danielle’s Corner

    Mid-Autumn Festival Autumn is here which means the Mid-Autumn Festival is around the corner. In Chinese culture, the Mid-Autumn Festival, aka the Moon Festival, is held on the 15th day of the 8th month of the Chinese calendar. Given this, the date is constantly changing – this year it’s September 21st in case you were curious. The Moon Festival dates back to Ancient China when emperors and commoners would worship the moon and the moon goddess, 嫦娥 (Chang’e), through offerings. Typical celebrations include lighting lanterns, going to see the dragon dances and fireworks, and having a family meal around a round table. When I was younger my older brother convinced me that the dragons were real and random spectators would be eaten for luck. Unfortunately, because of my brother’s white lie, I forbade my family from ever attending the dragon dances. However, I wholeheartedly agreed to family dinners around our tiny dining table. To this day my favorite part of the meal is the mooncakes symbolizing the prosperity and reunion of the family. Every Moon Festival – and Lunar New Year – my dad buys mooncakes filled with sweet red bean paste and a center of salted duck egg yolk representing the full moon. My mom and siblings aren’t fans of mooncakes which meant more for me. Nowadays you can find various mooncake fillings ranging from sweet (red bean, lotus seed, fruits, chocolate, and green tea) to savory (meats and seafood) so there’s something for everyone! If you’ve never had a mooncake, I definitely recommend heading to your local Asian market or bakery to pick some up this month. From me to you, 中秋快乐 or Happy Mid-Autumn Festival!  

    Find Applicable Energy Laws Search by Zip to Find Applicable Energy Laws

    There are over 30 cities/states with Energy Benchmark requirements – 16 have Energy Audit requirements as well! Use this free tool to check if your building has an upcoming Energy Benchmark or Energy Audit deadline.

    FIND OUT HERE »