Breakfast Seminar on ASHRAE Level Energy Audits

BOMA San Francisco Members:

PG&E’s Pacific Energy Center is pleased host a free seminar on ASHRAE Level Energy Audits and how to comply with San Francisco’s Existing Commercial Building Energy Performance Ordinance.

Please join this event for a discussion of:

• What is required by the ordinance;
• How to comply;
• How much time and money to budget;
• How to benefit financially from the results of the ASHRAE Level Energy Audit.

This free seminar will be held on March 4th from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at the Pacific Energy Center (PEC), 851 Howard Street, San Francisco (between 4th and 5th Streets)

RSVP: With the PEC, via this link

The seminar will be presented by BOMA San Francisco member CodeGreen Solutions, the San Francisco Department of Environment, and PG&E. More information on the SF ordinance.

BOMA International Advocacy Update - Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid

Recently, BOMA International staff had the opportunity to enjoy breakfast with the Senate Majority Leader, Harry Reid (D-Nev.), at a small real estate gathering. The leader discussed topics of interest to the real estate industry, including energy efficiency incentives, the potential for repealing or amending the Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act (FIRPTA), and the outlook for legislation to grant states the right to collect sales tax from Internet retailers. The Majority Leader also expressed frustration over the anticipated sequestration set to kick in tomorrow. He does not believe that there will be a last minute solution this time around, but hopes that both sides will come to an agreement shortly thereafter.

Join the Spring 2013 Lights Out For Birds Campaign

Spring migration stared on February 15 — with more than 250 species of birds moving through the Bay Area! You can help them complete their long journeys safely by joining the Lights Out for Birds campaign.

Bright lights tend to draw birds off their nighttime migratory paths. They often end up colliding with buildings or circling the lights endlessly until exhausted. But you can help… by making sure building lights are off from dusk until dawn until May 30.

BOMA Members: Turn off non-essential lights such as exterior architectural lighting. Inside, consider installing motion sensors or timers to keep lights off as much as possible at night.  Not only will you save the lives of birds, but you’ll save energy and money. PG&E offers rebates to companies that want to install these devices.

Tenant Employees: Turn out lights in your workplace at night, especially if you work in a tall building or one with extensive glass windows. If you need to work late, use task lighting rather than overhead lighting, or draw the blinds.

Help spread the word with Fact Sheets, posters and sample social media messages you can download and share. Use this online Lighting Cost calculator to help estimate how much money and energy you’ll save by turning lights out.

UPDATE: We Need Your Feedback - Planning Code Amendments for Bicycle Parking

UPDATE - February 28, 2013

BOMA San Francisco Members:

Please click here to review the most recent draft of the executive summary and language for the Planning Code Amendments for Bicycle Parking.   We've received word that the proposal will be continued at today's Planning Commission meeting and will be heard in the near future.

In the meantime, please continue to send in your feedback to johnb@boma.com.  The Planning Department and San Francisco Bicycle Coalition have been gracious partners in this process.  Collectively, we feel that most BOMA member issues have been addressed.

What is the major issue identified in the proposal at this time?

As present, BOMA members and other commercial property owners will have an August 2013 deadline to build a bike room to current standards or the NEW standards after August 2013.  The new layout/design requirements may impact existing building property owners that file for a specific exemption under the Tenant Bicycle Access in Existing Buildings Law.

Your BOMA Advocacy team and members are working on a compromise to extend the deadline.

What are the next steps?

We will recommend that the Planning Department/Commission consider reviewing future existing building bicycle parking facility build outs by square footage.  More details on this as the dialogue continues.

Once the Planning Commission approves the amended code changes at an upcoming meeting it then goes to the Board of Supervisors and relevant committees (most likely Land Use and Economic Development) for review. BOMA members and other stakeholders can suggest amendments at the appropriate time.

History

This large scale update to San Francisco’s Codes that relate to bicycles is based entirely on the 2009 Bicycle Plan that was adopted unanimously by the Board of Supervisors on August 11, 2009.

I want to know more. Where can I review this proposal?

Take a moment to review the Executive Summary of the Planning Code Amendments. Specifically:

• Triggers for Bike Parking Requirements in Existing Uses (p. 4) 
• Bike Parking as an Active Use (p. 5) 
• Related to bike parking rooms/facilities.  
• Bike Parking Requirements for Existing Garages (p. 6) 
• Bicycle Parking in the Environment Code (p. 7) 
• This is referencing your feedback so far regarding the Tenant Bicycle Access in Existing Buildings Law. 
• Public Comment (pp. 8-9) 
• BOMA feedback 
• Department of Environment feedback 
• San Francisco Bicycle Coalition 
• City and County of San Francisco Department of Real Estate 

If you’re so inclined, please review the language of the Planning Code Amendments. Specifically:

• Standards for Location of bicycle parking spaces – Class 1 (p. 19-20 of the ordinance)
• These are the bicycle parking requirements AFTER August 2013 if you want to build or expand your bike room.
• Effective Date (p. 26 of the ordinance)
• Note the language that identifies bicycle parking rooms (or facility) and the effective date for new bicycle parking requirements as August 1, 2013

--------------------

UPDATE - February 13, 2013

The San Francisco Planning Commission will hear this measure on February 28th.  Please email johnb@boma.com if you have any questions or concerns.

--------------------

Original Post - January 24, 2013

Your BOMA San Francisco Advocacy team has been working with our partners at the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition (SFBC) and the San Francisco Planning Department on an ordinance that will affect the way all property owners - including the City and County of San Francisco - administer bicycle parking on and adjacent to their premises.  This new proposal includes the Tenant Bicycle Access in Existing Commercial Buildings law that our members worked on with the SFBC in 2011 and was signed into law in 2012.

The aim of this new measure is to streamline all references to bicycle parking and to provide for new requirements in the San Francisco Planning and Environment Codes.  The catalyst for these updates is the San Francisco Bicycle Plan adopted in 2009.  Please note that the Planning Department is still working on amending the proposal language to reflect stakeholder issues, including BOMA San Francisco's concerns mentioned below.  Please contact johnb@boma.com with any questions when you review the available proposal dated December 13, 2012.

About the San Francisco Bike Plan

The San Francisco Bike Plan set as one of its major goals to ‘ensure plentiful, high quality bike parking’ in San Francisco. In order to achieve this goal, this Plan asks that the existing Planning Code be amended to better address bicycle parking. The plan identifies changes that would expand and increase these requirements and also organize and consolidate the existing Code sections. The proposed legislation would help implement many of these actions specified in the adopted San Francisco Bike Plan.


Potential BOMA Member Issues - Your Feedback Is Requested

The new measure will target primarily new construction projects and existing buildings where building alterations increase the gross square footage of a structure by 20% or more.  There are a few issues that will affect a BOMA members' ability to facilitate bicycle parking in an existing building going forward.   Any feedback on the following is appreciated.  Please send to johnb@boma.com.

Bike Parking Facilities (Bike Rooms) - Grace Period Until August 2013

The aforementioned 2012 Tenant Bicycle Access in Existing Commercial Buildings law requires that commercial building owners allow bicycles to be brought into the tenant space/or into a bike room on site for tenant employees only.

If a BOMA member has elected to allow tenants to park their bicycles in a bike room and they have not built it by August 2013, they will have until that time to do so under the current Planning/Environment Code.  After August 2013, they will be subject to the new bicycle parking requirements including: new parking design standards, number of parking spaces based on square footage, path of travel (e.g., no stair or escalators may used to access parking) and parking facility location requirements that are included in the 2013 bike parking proposal.

 - Charging a Reasonable Fee for Bike Parking Facilities

If you charge a reasonable fee for use of your building's bicycle facilities, you'll need to provide the bike parking facility at no charge if you build it after August 2013.

 - Existing Bike Parking Facilities 

According to the Planning Department, if a property owner has an existing bike parking facility on site that meets the current code, they do not have to meet the new requirements (after August 2013) unless they have building alterations that increase the gross square footage of the structure by 20% or more.

- Allowing Full Tenant Employee Bicycle Access

If a property owner or manager allows all tenant employees bicycle access into the building without restriction, they are not impacted by the new proposal.

We'll update this post once we receive the next draft of the proposal outlining these changes.  Please email johnb@boma.com with any questions you may have.

UPDATE: San Francisco's Gross Receipts Tax: What Commercial Property Owners and Property Managers Need to Know to Comply

Manuel Fishman speaking to BOMA Members

BOMA San Francisco Members:

UPDATE - February 27, 2013

The sample lease language to use during the interim period before the Gross Receipts Tax phase in begins in 2014 and the presentations from the briefing on February 15th, are now available:

Click here to view sample lease language to use during the interim period.
Click here to view the presentation overview.
Click here to view the presentation from the San Francisco's Treasurer's Office.

--------------------

UPDATE - February 15, 2013

Today's Gross Receipts Tax briefing was well-attended.  Thank you to the BOMA San Francisco member organizers and presenters Manuel Fishman, Kathy Mattes and Tom Gille.  A special thanks to San Francisco City Controller Ben Rosenfield, Treasurer Jose Cisneros and to Greg Kato with the Treasurer's office for presenting to BOMA members.

Please click here to 'like' our facebook page and view pictures of the event.

--------------------

Original Post - February 15, 2013

BOMA San Francisco will hold a briefing for members only on Friday, February 15th to relay pertinent information on how the Gross Receipts Tax structure will impact the industry.

Click here for details and registration.

This event will feature the following representatives:

City and County of San Francisco

• San Francisco Treasurer Jose Cisneros
• San Francisco Controller Ben Rosenfield 

BOMA Industry Representatives

• Manny Fishman, Buchalter Nemer
• Kathy Mattes, CBRE 
• Tom Gille, CAC Real Estate Management Co., Inc.

Collectively, the representatives will go over the necessary record keeping that will be required to satisfy the Tax Collectors requirements for this new law. In addition, they will explain the details of the requirements for owners, property managers and third party providers of property management services 

You will leave this briefing prepared for the switch to this new tax system when it begins to phase in starting in 2014. 

Seating IS limited and registration required.

Commercial Building Energy Asset Score -- Input Requested by US Department of Energy

The U.S Department of Energy (DOE) has developed a preliminary commercial building energy asset score to apply to a large variety of commercial building types across the U.S.  Last week, DOE issued a Request for Information (RFI) to solicit input on key issues associated with this voluntary score. The RFI was published in the Federal Register, and is available here.

If you are interested in providing input regarding the score, please submit your written comments directly to the DOE or to Karen Penafiel at kpenafiel@boma.org at BOMA International by March 5, 2013; comments direct to the DOE are due March 11, 2013.  

Instructions for submitting comments can be found in the RFI. Please feel free to share this information about the RFI with other interested parties.

Background on the Asset Score and RFI 

The score provides information regarding the efficiency of a building's major energy consuming systems and is intended to enable greater understanding of building performance and potential savings. Through the use of a free, on-line scoring tool, building owners and operators will be able to generate a score along with recommendations for how to improve the efficiency of their buildings. The scoring tool applies standard assumptions about a building's operations (based on building type) in order to calculate a score that reflects the building's energy efficiency, not the behavior of its occupants. More detailed information concerning the scoring methodology and other program features are outlined in a document entitled “Commercial Building Energy Asset Score: Program Overview and Technical Protocol Version 1.0." This Protocol document can be found here.

The RFI seeks input on the following specific program components:

1. Data collection and validation;

2. The asset score report (see sample score report attached to this email); and

3. Score durability.

The RFI provides an overview of the three program components. Additional detail on each of the three topics is provided in the Protocol document noted above.

Pilot Test #2 in Late Spring 2013:

DOE plans to continue to work with commercial building owners and operators to pilot test the score in 2013, as a follow-on to pilot testing done in 2012. During this testing period, DOE will continue to refine the program as well as conduct additional analysis to inform future program development. If you are interested in participating in the pilot, please email asset.score@ee.doe.gov with “Interested Pilot” in the subject line.

Supervisor London Breed Meets with BOMA San Francisco Members

BOMA San Francisco Members,

Member representatives from BOMA San Francisco's Political Action Committee and Government Affairs Policy Advisory Committee met with newly elected San Francisco District 5 Supervisor London Breed today.

This initial meeting was held to introduce BOMA to the Supervisor Breed and to learn more about her public policy ideas for the residents and businesses of District 5 as well as the City and County of San Francisco.  The Supervisor mentioned that she wants to focus on these policy issues in the near term.  Here are the highlights:

• Improve collaboration with stakeholder groups including the business community.
• Intelligent, fact based, policy decisions that are positive for the entire City of San Francisco.
• Strong focus on hiring local residents and improving their way of life.
• Address the issues of rapidly changing demographics in San Francisco and finding ways to help keep families in the City.

BOMA members thank the Supervisor for her time and we look forward to working with her in the near term.

Transbay Joint Powers Authority (TJPA) Citizens Advisory Committee - March 15th Deadline

BOMA San Francisco Members:

The Transbay Joint Powers Authority (TJPA) is soliciting applications from Bay Area residents interested in serving on the TJPA Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC).  The TJPA CAC consists of 15 members representing specific constituencies which reflect the many local and regional groups interested in the Transbay Transit Center Program.

CAC terms are for a period of two years and each member is eligible to serve a maximum of three consecutive terms.

There are seven (7) seats available representing the following constituencies:

• Daily Caltrain Rider into San Francisco
• Daily AC Transit Transbay Rider into San Francisco
• Local Resident from District 6 (zip code 94105 or 94107)
• Bicycle advocate
• Disabled advocate
• Regional transit advocate
• Member of the citywide (San Francisco) business community

Members whose terms are expiring have the opportunity to reapply for their current category and/or any categories they fulfill. Staff will review applications and make recommendations to the TJPA Board of Directors.

The TJPA CAC meets on the second Tuesday of the month in the TJPA office at 201 Mission Street, Suite 2100, San Francisco, CA. Meetings start at 5:30 PM. Consistent attendance is required.

If you are interested in being considered, please submit an application to the Transbay Joint Powers Authority, 201 Mission Street, Suite 2100, San Francisco, CA 94105 or via e-mail to TJPACAC@transbaycenter.org. Applications are available on the TJPA website.

Applications are due by March 15, 2013.

Minimum Qualifications for Energy Auditors - Existing Commercial Buildings Energy Performance Ordinance

BOMA San Francisco Members:

We've been reporting on the progress of BOMA member involvement regarding the Existing Commercial Buildings Energy Performance Ordinance when relevant.   As such, we have received a number of inquiries regarding a list of qualified BOMA San Francisco Associate member firms that can benchmark a building and/or conduct an energy audit to meet the requirements of the new law.  Here is the current list of member companies that can perform this service:

• Able Engineering
• ABM
• Carbon Lighthouse
• Code Green
• Eco Cosm Inc.
• Enovity
• kW Engineering
• Retro Com
• SCI Energy

Thank you to the San Francisco Department of Energy for their good work on overseeing the compliance of the ordinance.  Note, the Department cannot recommend a benchmarking consultant or an energy auditor, but can confirm that the following consultants have submitted Annual Energy Benchmark Summaries on behalf of clients in San Francisco as of January 15, 2013.  Many have indicated they also provide energy audits. This is not a recommendation, nor intended to imply anything about the quality of their work.

Regarding energy audits, the industry has not adopted a standard certification or qualification for energy audit services. As a result, a wide range of qualifications for an energy auditor is recognized in the Existing Commercial Buildings ordinance, and you can find a summary on the SF Environment website or the PDF Overview . Two designations recognized by the ordinance that directly correspond to the energy audit requirement: a licensed professional engineer (PE) or a certified ASHRAE Building Energy Assessment Professional (BEAP). You may find a list of professionals with these qualifications via:

• ASHRAE Certified Building Energy Assessment Professionals
• EPA ENERGY STAR Directory of Licensed Design Professionals
• Note that a licensed professional engineer is qualified to provide energy audits, but an architectural license is not a qualification to provide energy audits under the ordinance. This directory includes both.
• PG&E provides a limited number of audits for their customers to support energy efficiency improvements (rather than for the purpose of compliance.) To learn more, contact your PG&E representative or PG&E’s Business Customer Service Center at 1-800-468-4743.

San Francisco Benchmarking Ordinance - Free PG&E Workshops

Benchmarking Energy Use in Commercial Buildings

Sponsored by Pacific Gas & Electric Co.

Efficiency Sales Professional Institute, San Francisco, CA 

February 26, 2013 8:30 am – 12:30 pm Register here

March 15, 2013 8:30 am – 12:30 pm Register here

This city of San Francisco now requires all commercial buildings over 10,000 square feet benchmark their energy use and report it to the City of San Francisco annually.   In addition, California law AB 1103 will soon require the disclosure of an energy performance benchmarking score prior to selling, refinancing or leasing certain buildings. 

Learn how to benchmark your building's energy performance with the help of PG&E's Automated Benchmarking Service—a free, easy-to-use service that automatically sends your commercial building's energy use information to the EPA's ENERGY STAR® Portfolio Manager every month. This class will include a hands-on benchmarking exercise using portable wireless hotspots so that attendees can evaluate a building from start to finish and see the ENERGY STAR score. AIA & GBCI (LEED) credits available. Credits available: AIA 4.0 HSW/SD LUs; GBCI 4.0 CEs 

You’ve Benchmarked Your Building: What’s Next?

Sponsored by Pacific Gas & Electric Co.

Efficiency Sales Professional Institute, San Francisco, CA 

February 26, 2013 1:00pm – 4:30 pm Register here

March 15, 2013 8:30 am – 12:30 pm Register here

Getting your building's benchmarking score is just the beginning. This course explores how to set targets for improvement: estimating the actual amount of energy savings needed to reach a higher score; which low-/no-cost or capital upgrades might produce various magnitudes of savings; which utility incentive programs could help identify or finance those improvements and much more.

 It's not about what your building's score is today -- it's about what you want that score to be and how to get it there! Credits available: AIA 3.5 HSW/SD LUs; GBCI 3.5 CEs

UPDATE: San Francisco's Gross Receipts Tax: What Commercial Property Owners and Property Managers Need to Know to Comply

Manuel Fishman speaking to BOMA Members

BOMA San Francisco Members:

UPDATE - February 15, 2013

Today's Gross Receipts Tax briefing was well-attended.  Thank you to the BOMA San Francisco member organizers and presenters Manuel Fishman, Kathy Mattes and Tom Gille.  A special thanks to San Francisco City Controller Ben Rosenfield, Treasurer Jose Cisneros and to Greg Kato with the Treasurer's office for presenting to BOMA members.

Please click here to 'like' our facebook page and view pictures of the event.

--------------------

Original Post - February 15, 2013

BOMA San Francisco will hold a briefing for members only on Friday, February 15th to relay pertinent information on how the Gross Receipts Tax structure will impact the industry.

Click here for details and registration.

This event will feature the following representatives:

City and County of San Francisco

• San Francisco Treasurer Jose Cisneros
• San Francisco Controller Ben Rosenfield 

BOMA Industry Representatives

• Manny Fishman, Buchalter Nemer
• Kathy Mattes, CBRE 
• Tom Gille, CAC Real Estate Management Co., Inc.

Collectively, the representatives will go over the necessary record keeping that will be required to satisfy the Tax Collectors requirements for this new law. In addition, they will explain the details of the requirements for owners, property managers and third party providers of property management services 

You will leave this briefing prepared for the switch to this new tax system when it begins to phase in starting in 2014. 

Seating IS limited and registration required.

UPDATE: We Need Your Feedback - Planning Code Amendments for Bicycle Parking

UPDATE - February 13, 2013

BOMA San Francisco Members:

The San Francisco Planning Commission will hear this measure on February 28th.  Please email johnb@boma.com if you have any questions or concerns.

--------------------

Original Post - January 24, 2013

Your BOMA San Francisco Advocacy team has been working with our partners at the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition (SFBC) and the San Francisco Planning Department on an ordinance that will affect the way all property owners - including the City and County of San Francisco - administer bicycle parking on and adjacent to their premises.  This new proposal includes the Tenant Bicycle Access in Existing Commercial Buildings law that our members worked on with the SFBC in 2011 and was signed into law in 2012.

The aim of this new measure is to streamline all references to bicycle parking and to provide for new requirements in the San Francisco Planning and Environment Codes.  The catalyst for these updates is the San Francisco Bicycle Plan adopted in 2009.  Please note that the Planning Department is still working on amending the proposal language to reflect stakeholder issues, including BOMA San Francisco's concerns mentioned below.  Please contact johnb@boma.com with any questions when you review the available proposal dated December 13, 2012.

About the San Francisco Bike Plan

The San Francisco Bike Plan set as one of its major goals to ‘ensure plentiful, high quality bike parking’ in San Francisco. In order to achieve this goal, this Plan asks that the existing Planning Code be amended to better address bicycle parking. The plan identifies changes that would expand and increase these requirements and also organize and consolidate the existing Code sections. The proposed legislation would help implement many of these actions specified in the adopted San Francisco Bike Plan.


Potential BOMA Member Issues - Your Feedback Is Requested

The new measure will target primarily new construction projects and existing buildings where building alterations increase the gross square footage of a structure by 20% or more.  There are a few issues that will affect a BOMA members' ability to facilitate bicycle parking in an existing building going forward.   Any feedback on the following is appreciated.  Please send to johnb@boma.com.

Bike Parking Facilities (Bike Rooms) - Grace Period Until August 2013

The aforementioned 2012 Tenant Bicycle Access in Existing Commercial Buildings law requires that commercial building owners allow bicycles to be brought into the tenant space/or into a bike room on site for tenant employees only.

If a BOMA member has elected to allow tenants to park their bicycles in a bike room and they have not built it by August 2013, they will have until that time to do so under the current Planning/Environment Code.  After August 2013, they will be subject to the new bicycle parking requirements including: new parking design standards, number of parking spaces based on square footage, path of travel (e.g., no stair or escalators may used to access parking) and parking facility location requirements that are included in the 2013 bike parking proposal.

 - Charging a Reasonable Fee for Bike Parking Facilities

If you charge a reasonable fee for use of your building's bicycle facilities, you'll need to provide the bike parking facility at no charge if you build it after August 2013.

 - Existing Bike Parking Facilities 

According to the Planning Department, if a property owner has an existing bike parking facility on site that meets the current code, they do not have to meet the new requirements (after August 2013) unless they have building alterations that increase the gross square footage of the structure by 20% or more.

- Allowing Full Tenant Employee Bicycle Access

If a property owner or manager allows all tenant employees bicycle access into the building without restriction, they are not impacted by the new proposal.

We'll update this post once we receive the next draft of the proposal outlining these changes.  Please email johnb@boma.com with any questions you may have.

Celebrating the BOMA Bay Area EARTH Awards - Sustainability Report

BOMA San Francisco Members:

The Sustainability Report is a full-color print and digital publication that will be distributed on and after the annual BOMA Bay Area EARTH Awards event on May 16, 2013. Bring additional value to your firm and exposure to BOMA Bay Area Members:

• The Sustainability Report will be included as a special section in the Spring edition of the BOMA VIEWS, the quarterly publication of BOMA San Francisco.

• The Report will be distributed directly to members of BOMA Oakland/East Bay and be promoted through both BOMA’s various social media outlets and their respective websites. Further, the Sustainability Report will promote BOMA members’ contribution to local environmental stewardship and resource conservation over the next four quarters.

• If you provide green services or products to buildings or if your company is proud of creating a sustainable environment for tenants or employees, you can tell your story in the Sustainability Report by purchasing a special sponsored report, a display ad or a byline article. 

For more information on how you can take advantage of this unique opportunity, contact Ellen Eason at ellen@easoncom.com or at 415-596-9466. Click here to see the Media Kit: Sustainability Report Media Kit.

San Francisco's Gross Receipts Tax: What Commercial Property Owners and Property Managers Need to Know to Comply

BOMA San Francisco Members:

BOMA San Francisco will hold a briefing for members only on Friday, February 15th to relay pertinent information on how the Gross Receipts Tax structure will impact the industry.

Click here for details and registration.

This event will feature the following representatives:

City and County of San Francisco

• San Francisco Treasurer Jose Cisneros
• San Francisco Controller Ben Rosenfield 

BOMA Industry Representatives

• Manny Fishman, Buchalter Nemer
• Kathy Mattes, CBRE 
• Tom Gille, CAC Real Estate Management Co., Inc.

Collectively, the representatives will go over the necessary record keeping that will be required to satisfy the Tax Collectors requirements for this new law. In addition, they will explain the details of the requirements for owners, property managers and third party providers of property management services 

You will leave this briefing prepared for the switch to this new tax system when it begins to phase in starting in 2014. 

Seating IS limited and registration required.

SFMTA Director Ed Reiskin Speaks to BOMA San Francisco Government and Policy Advisory Committee Members

BOMA SF Executive Vice President Marc Intermaggio and SFMTA Director of Transportation Ed Reiskin 

BOMA San Francisco Members,

BOMA's Government and Policy Advisory Committee (GAPAC) recently welcomed back Ed Reiskin, Director of Transportation for the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA).

The SFMTA is the City’s mobility manager and operates the entire surface transportation network that encompasses pedestrians, bicycling, transit, traffic and parking and regulates the taxi industry.  As such,  Mr. Reiskin provided a great deal of information in a short time frame.  Here are the highlights from his presentation:

• SFMTA 6 Year Plan: Fiscal Year 2013 – Fiscal Year 2018 SFMTA Strategic Plan
• The Strategic Plan is the Agency's commitment to set the wheels in motion for a more connected, sustainable and vibrant San Francisco by building upon the City’s Transit First policy. 
• San Francisco Municipal Railway (Muni)
• Mr. Reiskin mentioned that Muni is the Agency's biggest service.  
• He spoke to the issues that riders may experience including the aging fleet of transit conveyances.  Muni has the oldest fleet in the nation although there are plans to replace a percentage of older coaches and light rail vehicles in the near term.  
• Training new drivers is also a priority for the SFMTA
• Infrastructure Improvements
• Including Central Control and Communications Center modernization.
• SFPark Program
• In the pilot phase at this time according to Mr. Reiskin.  
• Van Ness Avenue and Geary Boulevard Bus Rapid Transit proposals

BOMA San Francisco members thank Mr. Reiskin for his leadership of the SFMTA.

UPDATE: BOMA Bay Area EARTH Awards – Applications Due February 8, 2013

UPDATE - February 7, 2013

The BOMA Bay Area EARTH Awards application is due tomorrow, February 8th.  Please consider entering your building in the contest and/or submitting an Innovation Questionnaire.

Thank you and contact Zachary Brown, Chair of the BOMA Bay Area EARTH Awards Program with any questions at zachary.brown@cbre.com.

--------------------

Original Post - January 8, 2013

By Zachary Brown, Chair of the BOMA Bay Area EARTH Awards Program

BOMA San Francisco Members:

The greatest edition of the BOMA Bay Area EARTH Awards application is now available on the BOMA San Francisco website.  The application, now in its seventh year, raises the bar on what defines sustainable Bay Area commercial real estate.

With over 60 active principal and associate members, the BOMA San Francisco Energy & Environment Committee lends its expertise annually to update the EARTH Award application to represent the newest and best practices in waste diversion, energy conservation, responsible purchasing, indoor environmental quality, alternative transportation, and tenant education.  This year, the Energy & Environment Committee made many notable changes to improve upon the 2012 EARTH Award program.  For example, the size categories have been updated to make them more consistent and competitive for applicants.

New for 2013 – Innovation Questionnaire

In addition to the application improvements, the Committee has drafted a new, separate Innovation Questionnaire. The Questionnaire, an optional addendum, is a separate recognition opportunity for applicants that can be completed with or without the 2013 EARTH Award Application.

The Innovation Questionnaire can be submitted by any BOMA member building regardless of obstacles or preclusions to enter the competition as an applicant. The Innovations Questionnaire addresses the issue of commercial property owners and managers that may not qualify for the auditing stage of the application process but have had an operational innovation or unique physical retrofit worth the attention of the greater BOMA membership.

Prior to the 2013 application, an interesting innovation would have been overlooked by the EARTH Awards auditors when evaluating the top-performing applicants. The 2013 Innovation Questionnaire addresses this issue by highlighting a specific 2012 innovation to be featured in the 2013 EARTH Award ceremony and associated BOMA San Francisco and Oakland/East Bay publications and marketing.

Moreover, regardless of how many points scored on the EARTH Award application, every unique operational program or retrofit can be submitted in the Innovations Questionnaire. Innovations will be considered and recognized for their own unique contribution to the Bay Area’s Sustainable Real Estate Industry. Also, for those high-performing buildings that may score well on the application, it behooves property owners and managers to submit at least one unique project using the Questionnaire as it will add a point to the total application tally.

If you are a BOMA member building, you should apply for the EARTH Award! Why?

• The application has evolved since 2012 and features new and revised questions
• This is a peer to peer competition; each year the field of competition changes 
• For 2013, unique innovations will be recognized separately from the application and judged upon their own merit 
• The BOMA Bay Area EARTH Award is the ONLY building competition celebrating the consummate in green and sustainable buildings 

Unsure if you have a unique innovation for the Questionnaire?  You probably have had at least one innovative project in 2012. 

Examples include:

• Incorporated new, state of the art technology to an existing building system 
• Used rebates and/or incentives to retrofit old equipment with high-efficiency units 
• Found a unique path to achieve a LEED credit to certify or re-certify 
• Collaborated on a sustainability program with a tenant 
• Addressed a unique building feature or system with a equally unique solution and/or retrofit 
• You can find more examples of innovations at the BOMA San Francisco Advocacy blog

Applications are due Friday, February 8, 2013. The EARTH Awards ceremony will be on May 16, 2013 at the Intercontinental Hotel, a certified LEED Gold facility. If you have any questions about the EARTH Award application please direct them to the BOMA SF Energy & Environment Committee.

BOMA California Legislative Update - 2013 Building Code Adopted

BOMA San Francisco Members:

This week the California Building Standards Commission adopted the 2013 California Building Standards Code. The adoption of the 2013 code comes after a comprehensive multi-state agency and stakeholder update of the 2010 building codes.

Californians will find a number of important updates in the 2013 code, such as:

• An extensive update of California’s Energy Code; 
• Division of the State Architect’s adoption of the 2010 Americans with Disabilities Act standards with California amendments; 
• Updated California Green Building Code—CALGreen--requirements for nonresidential building alterations and additions; 
• New plumbing code provisions pertaining to greywater and rainwater catchments. 

The California Building Standards Commission is responsible for administering the state’s building standards. The thirteen volume code is published on a triennial basis. Updates are issued during an eighteen month intervening cycle.

The new code will be published online and available for purchase on July 1, 2013. By law, the public is given 180 days (six months) to review this new code before it goes into effect on January 1, 2014.

Click here for more information.