Prop 39 Zero Net Energy Pilot

CA Public Utilities Commission • So. California Edison • San Bernardino Community College

ThermeShade: City of Encinitas City Hall Project

Building:	San Bernardino City College District Offices
Location:	114 S. Del Rosa Drive
	San Bernardino, CA
Climate:	Dry-Summer Subtropical
Exposure:	West
Applications:	Roller Blinds
	ThermēShade manual
	Mecho Shade motorized
Coverage:	341 sq ft

2018 Sustainable Innovation Award

U.S. Green Building Council
Los Angeles Sustainable Innovation Awards

San Bernardino Community College District won the U.S. Green Building Council-Los Angeles 2018 Sustainable Innovation Awards in the Energy Category.

The Energy Awards evaluate merit based upon sustainable strategies that demonstrate exemplary performance by going above and beyond LEED credit achievement. The jurors appreciated the innovations that were documented and agreed that the project was far beyond rating system requirements or code and demonstrated excellence in design and construction.

Zero Net Energy Pilot Program - Image showing ThermeShade installation

Technologies for Daylighting

For this project, the District’s buildings were retrofitted with solar tubes, transparent manual shades, and more opaque motorized shades for special audio-visual needs. In addition, the old fluorescent lights were replaced with LED lighting with controls to dim the lights according to the amount of sunshine coming through the classroom or office windows.

The manually operated translucent ThermēShades were installed behind the motorized light blocking Mecho shades, and left in the down position throughout the study in order to retain the pleasant daylight while at the same time saving the rooms from heat and glare. The motorized shades when needed were wirelessly operated by a sensor. In many installations, the economical manually-operated ThermēShade might be considered a cost-cutting benefit.

“THE RESULTS OF THE DISTRICT’S RETROFIT EFFORTS BENEFIT THE ENVIRONMENT AS WELL AS THE STUDENTS, EDUCATORS, STAFF AND COLLEGE DISTRICT. MOST PEOPLE DON’T REALIZE THAT COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS ARE SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTORS TO CALIFORNIA’S GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS.” ~Jill Anderson, SCE Vice President

Results

Several months after the completion of the retrofit, the District office had already reduced its energy use by about 15%. And, on some days, the district sends extra solar energy back to the grid. This has resulted in lower electric bills and energy savings.

“With the new lighting, you can see that the students and staff are happier,” said Farrah Farzaneh, director of Facilities Planning & Construction at San Bernardino Community College District. “You can see it in their moods and attitudes.”

“We hope to be able to replicate the results that are being achieved at SBCCD at other community colleges and with other customers throughout our service area.” ~Jill Anderson, Southern California Edison Vice President