Approve the proposed update to the County Energy Conservation Policy and incorporate the Policy into the County's Administrative Policies and Procedures Manual. (No general fund impact) (Pistochini)

Approve the proposed update to the County Energy Conservation Policy and incorporate the Policy into the County's Administrative Policies and Procedures Manual (Att. A).

On September 23, 2008, the Board of Supervisors approved an Energy Conservation Policy by minute order (Attachment B), which established guidelines for temperature set points related to heating and cooling in County facilities. The General Services Department continues to implement this policy as part of its ongoing commitment to energy efficiency and sustainability. 

At this time, staff recommends codifying the existing policy into the County’s Administrative Policies and Procedures Manual and updating it to incorporate recent advancements in heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) technologies. These updates are intended to support the County’s continued participation in demand response and virtual power plant programs—energy conservation initiatives that help reduce peak electricity demand, particularly during high-usage periods. These programs are a proven method for reducing carbon emissions and energy consumption, and they provide the County with financial incentives in the form of rebates for reducing load during peak demand events. Incorporating the Policy into the Administrative Policies and Procedures Manual will further make it easier for staff to identify and follow.  

Adoption of the Policy will formally incorporate the temperature settings for County facilities in the Administrative Policies and Procedures Manual with temperature set points of 76 degrees Fahrenheit for cooling and 68 degrees Fahrenheit for heating. The proposed policy is modeled after similar frameworks adopted by the California Department of General Services and the University of California. 

This is a codification of a previously approved Board of Supervisors policy that has been continuously applied since 2008 and was previously collaborated with the County Administrator's Office. The proposed policy was reviewed and consulted with the University of California, Davis - Western Cooling Efficiency Center.