Utility Perspective on

Achieving Zero Net Energy

Jeffrey Reed
Market Development and Emerging
Technology
Sempra Energy Utilities

© 2002 San Diego Gas and Electric Co. and Southern California Gas Company. All copyright and trademark rights reserved.
 Sempra Energy Utilities

•  Southern California Gas Company

–  Nation’s largest natural gas distribution
utility
–  Serving over 20 million consumers in
20,000- square-mile service territory
•  San Diego Gas & Electric California

–  Natural gas and electric utility Southern California

Gas Company
–  Serving 3.4 million consumers in San
Diego and southern Orange Counties
San Diego
Gas & Electric

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The Energy World Tomorrow
Smart Homes
&
Communities

Energy and Info Flow

Consumer
Supply
Decisions
Smart Grid

Efficient and seamless flow of

energy and information

DE
R Smart
Office

Biofuels

Gas Storage
CO2 Enhanced Oil Recovery

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“Smart Home” -- Communication and
Control will be Critical Enablers

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State Policy – “Loading Order”

•  Energy Efficiency

•  Renewables

•  Clean and Efficient Fossil

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The Role of Utilities in Energy
Efficiency

•  Operationalize state energy efficiency policy by

–  Supporting new technologies (identification, testing, piloting,
sponsored RD&D)
–  Promoting early adoption (customer education and incentives)
-- act as “agent” for customer in identifying promising
technologies

•  Track record in the state has been outstanding

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 The California Long Term
Energy Efficiency Strategic Plan
Four Bold Energy Efficiency Strategies-
•  Commercial New Construction
All new commercial construction in California will be zero
net energy by 2030.
•  Residential New Construction
All new residential construction in California will be zero
net energy by 2020
•  Residential / Small Commercial HVAC
Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) industry
will be reshaped

•  Low-Income Energy Efficiency

All eligible low-income homes will be energy efficient by
2020

Note: Federal goal of Carbon Neutral buildings by 2030

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WHERE ARE WE TODAY?

Commercial Buildings (US Avg.) Energy Use

Existing commercial buildings use +/- 90,000
btu/sf/yr
Buildings rebuilt to code achieve +/-70,000 btu/
sf/yr
Best available building design +/-40,000 btu/sf/yr
Best available with PV +/-10,000 btu/sf/yr

Residential Buildings (US Avg.)

Existing Single Family Homes +/-43,800 btu/
sf/yr
New Single Family Homes +/-25,600 btu/
sf/yr

Zero Net Energy Goal +/- 0 btu/sf/yr

Source: Commercial-NREL, Residential-EIA

Elements of the Solution

•  Energy Management / Smart Home

•  Efficient Building Envelope and systems
•  Super efficient lighting systems with controls
•  Low energy HVAC systems
•  Renewable energy with storage
•  Comprehensive design tools

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EXAMPLES OF EFFICIENT BLDG. SHELLS

Cool roofs
eco-structure magazine website
Electrochromatic Windows
Sage Glass

Triple Insulated Window

Alpen Energy Group

Insulated Concrete Forms (ICF)

Concrete 4U Website

Structural Insulated Panels (SIP)

SIP Home Systems Website

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Can We Get There by 2020?

Smart Home
100% Efficient Lighting and Appliances

15%-20% Building Envelop

Building Efficient HVAC
Energy
Req’t 20%-25%
Distributed Generation
η and Energy Storage

Contributions to Zero Net

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Adoption Curves

adio VCR
FM R
Phone Color TV

TV

PC

Cable TV Internet

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 ~10% - 15%
of Households

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Question – Zero Net at What Scale?

•  Zero net what?

–  Zero net buildings
–  Zero net communities
–  Zero net society
•  Ends versus means
–  Low environmental footprint
–  Efficient use of energy
•  Technology and economics should drive the scale
•  Smart Grid will enable solutions at all scales – nano to
macro

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Keys to Success

•  Innovation pipeline (universities and VC’s)

–  Focus (Climate Change, energy independence)
–  Funding (stimulus)
–  Development and commercialization cycle time

•  Consumer Adoption
–  Education and outreach
–  Incentives
–  Standards
–  “Soak time”

•  Flexible policy incorporating the natural timelines of

technology development and consumer behavior

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A Technology Roadmap for Net Zero
Energy Buildings

Questions ??
Current US Energy Use
Profile

Residential

Commercial

Source: US DOE

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