Southern California Green Real Estate Blog

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GILA BEND, ARIZONA IS THE SIDE OF THE FIRST U.S. SOLAR POWER PLANT

GILA BEND, ARIZONA IS THE SIDE OF THE FIRST U.S. SOLAR POWER PLANT

Look at the temperature records, Gila Bend, Arizona is regularly the hottest place in the U.S. With more than 300 days a year of sunshine, it’s the perfect location for the nation’s first solar power plant.

Abengoa Solar has selected a three square mile patch of land in Gila Bend, Arizona, to develop its first solar power plant in the nation. The 2,000 acre plot is located in one of the most arid parts of the country.

The company, which has developed plants abroad, is working with Arizona Public Service Co. to build, own and operate the 280-megawatt plant.

The Solana Generating Station, which will be built at an estimated cost of $4,000 per megawatt, could generate up to $4 billion in revenue over a 30-year period in electricity sales to Arizona Public Service. It’s also projected to bring more than $1 billion of economic benefits to the state.

The plant will be built about 70 miles southwest of Phoenix at the junction of Interstate 8 and Painted Rock Dam Road and generate enough power for 70,000 homes.

Construction is scheduled to begin in second quarter 2009, allowing the plant to come on line in 2011. Abengoa Solar will boost the local economy, by employing an estimated 1,500 construction workers to build the plant, with 85 permanent employees needed to operate it.

Kate Maracas, vice president of Denver-based Abengoa Solar, notes that the company is searching for more sites in the sunny Southwest to develop more plants. “There is an infinite amount of solar resources, but the land that can support this isn’t quite as enormous,” Maracas says. She adds, however, that Arizona is an ideal spot because there are many parts of the state that offer what Abengoa needs.

Abengoa Solar operates the world’s first commercial concentrating solar power plant in Spain and is building three more plants in that country. Spain is also home to a demonstration trough plant and the world’s first commercial photovoltaic low concentration plant. The company also plans to build plants in Algeria and Morocco.

http://www.globest.com/news/1099_1099/phoenix/168476-1.html?type=pf

How Much Water Can You Save?

There is no more fresh water on Earth today than there was a million years ago. Yet today, 6 billion people share it. Since 1950, the world population has doubled, but water use has tripled. Californians use nearly 23 trillion gallons of water a year, much of it coming from Sierra Nevada snowmelt. But climate change is producing less snowpack and is causing it to melt faster each year, jeopardizing future supplies.

The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, a.k.a. LADWP, continues to stress the importance of using water wisely. Continued growth in population and commerce, and unpredictable climatic conditions are constant reminders that our water must be managed and used wisely. Since approximately 84 percent of the City’s water is imported from hundreds of miles away, it simply does not make sense to waste it.

In view of this situation, LADWP encourages everyone to conserve water. Cooperation from our customers, including commercial and industrial businesses, has been outstanding. However, the effort must continue as water conservation is a necessary and important part of water supply planning for the future.

Here is 10-step approach to a Water Conservation Program for Businesses. These basic guidelines have been proven essential to a successful conservation effort, plus a bonus….

1. Start with a desire to eliminate waste

Prior experiences have revealed that for any program to be successful, the desire to conserve water must be present from the highest level of management on down. Upper management should understand and accept the fact that water conservation is necessary, and be fully committed to its support.

2. Appoint a Conservation Manager

It has been shown that those companies which have placed an individual in charge of their conservation program have far better results than companies which never assign such a responsibility to someone. Place someone in charge of your conservation program, making it part of their regular duties. Such a move will enhance the likelihood of positive results.

3. Determine where your water is used

Before implementing any kind of conservation program, know where your water is being used. It is also important to know how much water is being used for each of your firm’s industrial processes and/or domestic needs.

4. Check your system for leaks

Learn to read your water meter. It’s simple. LADWP can provide information that will guide you through this very important procedure. Leaks can be detected by having a periodic shutdown of all water-using facilities and reading the water meter at intervals of the shutdown. If any movement of the meter dials occur, water is leaking. If a leak is detected, locate and repair it as soon as possible.

5. Set a conservation goal

It is important to have goals. Be realistic. However, the conservation goals should be high enough to require substantial effort. Allow these goals to serve as progress reference points. They will illustrate the effectiveness of your water conservation program.

6. Apply common sense

Use a little common sense to eliminate waste. Request information from LADWP regarding water conservation measures. Look for common conservation opportunities in restrooms, kitchens, laundries and water-using processes. Encourage suggestions from employees to reduce your water consumption.

7. Involve your employees

Teach water awareness. Many companies have posted signs throughout their facilities which help to create an awareness of water conservation among the employees. Creating competition among employees (for instance, establishing which work shift can use the least amount of water) is another idea. Once employees start thinking about their water use, water consumption usually decreases.

8. Install low flow devices

Replace non-water saving toilets and urinals with ultra-low-flush models (LADWP offers rebates for such replacement). If you already have these types of toilets, make sure they are adjusted to use the minimum amount of water required per flush. All showering facilities should be equipped with low-flow showerheads. Showerheads equipped with on-off valves provide the opportunity to conserve more water than those without valves. Install low-flow aerators on all faucet fixtures.

9. Be aware of water efficient equipment

As you replace the equipment in your plant, be aware of how much water the new equipment will use. Equipment manufacturers have become more aware of the need for water conservation and often offer equipment that uses less water. Explore all of your options. You may find that you have a choice in your equipment purchases and water conservation should be a determining factor in the selection process.

10. Monitor your results

Each water bill includes your consumption history. It is possible for you to follow this history and get an immediate idea as to how well you are doing compared to any one of the past 14 billing periods. Use charts, graphs, and other records to keep track of your conservation progress and share it with employees.

11. Other things you can do

Check facility for leaks and repair immediately.

Save water by participating in any of LADWP’s Commercial Rebate Programs.

Rebates are available for:

High efficiency toilets

High efficiency urinals

Smart controllers

Cooling tower pH controllers, and more.

Encourage employees to conserve and to report water waste.

Instruct landscape maintenance staff to reduce water use by repairing leaks, adjusting sprinkler heads to minimize overspray, adjust the sprinkler timer seasonally OR replace timer with a smart controller.

Eliminate hosing-down of walkways and driveways.

Retrofit restrooms with self-closing faucets.

Install water saving faucet aerators in all restrooms. Call 1-800-544-4498 and press “0″ for more information on the availability of FREE aerators for your business.

For additional commercial programs please go to the LADWP water conservation page.

For additional tips and conservation information, visit www.bewaterwise.com

http://www.ladwp.com/ladwp/cms/ladwp001257.jsp

http://www.ladwp.com/ladwp/cms/ladwp001226.jsp

21st @ MONTANA - SANTA MONICA’S PREMIER GREEN CONDO PROJECT WANTS YOU

21st @ MONTANA – SANTA MONICA’S PREMIER GREEN CONDO PROJECT WANTS YOU

LEED is catching on. Santa Monica has been very progressive on their environmentally sustainable programs LEED rated public buildings, parking structures parks. Although offering little back to the community in the way of grants and rebates like Berkeley, Santa Monica has expertise to share with anyone willing to do the City of Santa Monica new property obstacle course.

Bravo to several who builders have been jumping through the permission commission hoops to get larger and more complex projects. The most recent to get the green light to build a LEED certified condo complex is Pacific Cove Development . The City of Santa Monica has given them all of the stamps and seals to begin building. Now all they want is you.

The 853 21st St. condo project is clean, green, City approved and as sexy as it can be. 21st @ Montana offers the benefits of being walking distance from prestigious Montana Avenue at the prestigious north end of Santa Monica, and is adjacent to and R1 zoning. This 6 unit LEED certified condo project is ready to build, complete with CC&Rs HOA budget. All you need to do is sign on the dotted line.

853 21st St, Santa Monica 90403
Price: Please call for information

Property Use Type: Condo Development Opportunity

Lot Size (sq.ft.): 7,998 sf

Occupancy: 0% - Ellised

Current Building Area: 4,640sf

Proposed Building Area: 8,039

Current number of units: 5

Proposed number of condos: 6

Unit breakdown