Buildings and Facilities
12
Number of PG&E’s buildings that have received LEED™ green building certification
PG&E continues to make progress toward its five-year goals for reducing energy, water and waste in office facilities and service yards. By doing so, we are reducing the environmental footprint of our facilities, while providing an enhanced workplace for our employees. A growing network of employee volunteers has been critical to our progress—engaging and training fellow employees to reduce their environmental impact at work.
Energy, Water and Waste Reduction
To meet our five-year goals, we are executing a multi-faceted strategy to invest in key facility improvements, engage employees and incorporate sustainability principles into all aspects of the management of our real estate. We continue to strive for improvement beyond our original goals.
- 1 The energy reduction goal is measured in million BTUs (MMBtus) and included 156 sites in 2010 and 168 sites in 2011 and 2012.
- 2 The water reduction goal is measured in gallons and included 91 sites in 2010, 125 sites in 2011 and 135 sites in 2012.
- 3 The waste diversion rate measures the diversion rate in the final quarter of each year. It included administrative waste for 48 office facilities and service yard sites in 2010 and 2011. In 2012, we expanded the scope to include all non-hazardous municipal waste. We expanded further in 2013 to separately track 67 additional sites.
At our corporate headquarters, we upgraded the mechanical systems with new infrastructure and digital controls, reducing energy use while providing better workplace comfort.
Irrigation controls limit watering of landscaping based on weather and soil conditions.
Our efforts include improving the operational efficiency of our existing buildings; ensuring that equipment replacement, major remodels and new facilities meet high efficiency standards; and identifying additional projects that would result in significant efficiency improvements. We also continue to engage our broader workforce, including partnering with a Grassroots Green Network that brings together employee volunteers to support energy, water and waste reduction awareness and initiatives.
Highlights in 2012 included:
- We reduced energy use by 3.1 percent—or about 12,990 MMBtus—at 168 offices and service yards, exceeding our 3.0 percent target. We achieved this by specifying energy efficient designs when replacing mechanical and lighting systems that were past their useful life and installing advanced controls and building automation systems. We replaced lighting in parking areas and service yards with new LED fixtures with motion sensor and timing controls. We also incorporated energy efficiency considerations into major remodel projects. In 2013, our goal is to achieve an additional 3.5 percent reduction.
- We reduced water use by 2.3 percent—or 3.1 million gallons—at 135 offices and service yards, exceeding our 2.0 percent target. To achieve these reductions, we reduced landscape water use through enhanced maintenance and by installing “smart” irrigation controllers at eleven sites to govern the use of sprinkler systems. In 2013, our goal is to achieve an additional 2.0 percent reduction.
- We reached a 78 percent waste diversion rate for 48 sites, exceeding our 73 percent target. This total includes all non-hazardous municipal waste generated within and outside the buildings. Key steps included ensuring yard bins were the right size, upgrading service and adding composting and single-stream recycling at select locations. Our 2013 goal is to achieve an 81 percent waste diversion rate. We will also aim for a 61 percent diversion rate at an additional 67 sites.
Community Partnership to Reduce Waste
PG&E facilities in Bakersfield partnered with BARC, a local non-profit committed to helping people with developmental disabilities. BARC now provides our sites with expanded recycling services which reduces our waste while supporting the community.
Energy Consumption Statistics
These figures represent electricity and natural gas usage at 168 facilities managed by our Corporate Real Estate Strategy and Services department.
- 1 The data reflects the 12-month period from December to November and is normalized for weather. Additionally, usage for years 2010-2011 has been updated to reflect improved accuracy of meter information.
- 2 Figures are reported in the industry standard of BTU per square foot, which incorporates all of the energy used in a facility into one comparative number.
Water Use Statistics
In 2012, we made continued progress toward developing our “water footprint.”
Please see the Water Conservation and Management section for statistics on PG&E’s water usage.
Waste Generation Statistics
PG&E strives to minimize the overall amount of waste generated; compost organic waste and recycle non-hazardous waste, such as glass, paper and certain metals. These figures represent the total waste diverted from the landfill at 48 sites managed by our Corporate Real Estate Strategy and Services department.
Waste Diversion at Facilities1
1 The tonnage data reflects all of the non-hazardous municipal waste at 48 sites managed by PG&E’s Corporate Real Estate Strategy and Services department for the 12 months from October 2011 to September 2012. The diversion rate reflects the final quarter as measured one quarter in arrears (July to September 2012).
Other examples of waste reduction efforts in 2012 include the following:
- We recycled more than 23 million pounds of scrap iron, aluminum and copper from conductors, meters and miscellaneous material. We also recycled more than two million pounds of recovered meters, 15 million pounds of transformers and 147,000 pounds of plastic, including pipe and hard hats.
- We recycled or reused nearly 150 tons of e-waste, including consumer electronic devices, CPUs, monitors, servers, printers, and other equipment.
- We recycled nearly 115,000 pounds of steel and copper from Humboldt Bay Power Plant and Diablo Canyon Power Plant.
In the normal course of business, utility operations generate certain hazardous wastes. Waste is also created during the remediation and cleanup of historic legacy sites.
Federal hazardous waste management statutes include the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act and the Toxic Substances Control Act. California has its own set of hazardous waste management laws and regulations, which are more stringent and encompass a broader scope of waste streams. For example, wastes such as used oil are subject to California’s hazardous waste requirements but are not regulated as hazardous waste under federal law.
PG&E manages all hazardous waste in accordance with federal and state regulations. Our comprehensive approach includes providing guidance and training to employees to ensure that waste is properly managed from the point of generation to its ultimate disposal or recycling.
Additionally, while PG&E works to reduce the amount of hazardous waste generated, certain projects such as upgrades to our infrastructure or remediation of historical contamination may increase the amount of hazardous waste generated in a given year.
The following table provides statistics on PG&E’s waste generation.
| 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Hazardous Waste (tons) | 33,449 | 114,999 | 117,553 |
| RCRA1Hazardous Waste | 1,360 | 4,286 | 13,204 |
| TSCA2 Hazardous Waste | 1,863 | 1,041 | 1,783 |
| California Regulated Hazardous Waste | 30,226 | 109,672 | 102,566 |
| Federal Regulated Hazardous Waste (TSCA)—PCB Waste ≥50 ppm PCB (tons) | |||
| Total | 1,863 | 1,041 | 1,783 |
| Incineration | 306 | 230 | 290 |
| Landfill | 1,479 | 379 | 1,204 |
| Recycled | 77 | 432 | 289 |
| % Recycled | 4.2% | 41.5% | 16.2% |
| California Regulated Hazardous Waste (Non-RCRA)3 | |||
| Total | 30,226 | 109,672 | 102,566 |
| Disposed | 29,163 | 105,127 | 97,580 |
| Recycled | 1,063 | 4,545 | 4,986 |
| % Recycled | 3.5% | 4.1% | 4.9% |
| Universal Waste (tons) | |||
| Total | 164 | 159 | 200 |
| Recycled | 164 | 159 | 200 |
| % Recycled | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Low-Level Radioactive Waste | |||
| Diablo Canyon Power Plant | |||
| Disposed (cubic feet) | 367 | 660 | 453 |
| Humboldt Bay Power Plant | |||
| Disposed (cubic feet) | 52,009 | 130,602 | 12,344 |
| Radioactively Cleared Waste | |||
| Diablo Canyon Power Plant | |||
| Disposed (pounds) | N/A | 113,767 | 133,917 |
| Humboldt Bay Power Plant | |||
| Disposed (pounds) | N/A | N/A | 2,819,197 |
| Recycled Materials from Power Plants | |||
| Diablo Canyon Power Plant | |||
| Steel Recycled (pounds) | 115,845 | 30,300 | 68,463 |
| Copper Recycled (pounds) | 9,300 | 6,250 | 4,215 |
| Lead Recycled (pounds) | N/A | 15,500 | N/A |
| Humboldt Bay Power Plant | |||
| Steel Recycled (pounds) | 743,564 | 54,856 | 41,700 |
| Copper Recycled (pounds) | 1,475 | N/A | N/A |
| Lead Recycled (pounds) | N/A | N/A | N/A |
- 1 Refers to the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)
- 2 Refers to the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).
- 3 These figures include PCB Waste <50 ppm PCB.
Air Emissions
To comply with stringent local air quality regulations, PG&E is focused on minimizing air emissions from its conventional sources of power generation. The following figures reflect emissions from PG&E-owned generation sources.
| 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total NOX Emissions (tons) | 904 | 144 | 158 |
| Humboldt Bay Power Plant2 | 819 | N/A | N/A |
| Humboldt Bay Generating Station3 | 5 | 23 | 25 |
| Gateway Generating Station | 78 | 73 | 78 |
| Colusa Generating Station4 | 1.5 | 48 | 55 |
| NOX Emissions Rates (lbs/MWh) | |||
| Humboldt Bay Power Plant | 4.27 | N/A | N/A |
| Humboldt Bay Generating Station | 0.08 | 0.10 | 0.12 |
| Gateway Generating Station | 0.05 | 0.06 | 0.05 |
| Colusa Generating Station | 0.04 | 0.05 | 0.04 |
| Fossil Plants | 0.49 | 0.06 | 0.05 |
| All Plants | 0.06 | 0.008 | 0.01 |
| Total SO2 Emissions (tons) | 42 | 12 | 15 |
| Humboldt Bay Power Plant | 34 | N/A | N/A |
| Humboldt Bay Generating Station | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| Gateway Generating Station | 7 | 6 | 8 |
| Colusa Generating Station | 0.14 | 4 | 6 |
| SO2 Emissions Rates (lbs/MWh) | |||
| Humboldt Bay Power Plant | 0.179 | N/A | N/A |
| Humboldt Bay Generating Station | 0.015 | 0.009 | 0.005 |
| Gateway Generating Station | 0.004 | 0.005 | 0.005 |
| Colusa Generating Station | 0.004 | 0.004 | 0.004 |
| Fossil Plants | 0.023 | 0.005 | 0.005 |
| All Plants | 0.003 | 0.0007 | 0.0009 |
| Total Particulate Matter Emissions (tons) | 62 | 96 | 99 |
| Humboldt Bay Power Plant | 23 | N/A | N/A |
| Humboldt Bay Generating Station | 16 | 51 | 51 |
| Gateway Generating Station | 22 | 19 | 22 |
| Colusa Generating Station | 0.9 | 27 | 26 |
| Total CO Emissions (tons) | 123 | 43 | 46 |
| Humboldt Bay Power Plant | 100 | N/A | N/A |
| Humboldt Bay Generating Station | 9 | 15 | 14 |
| Gateway Generating Station | 9 | 10 | 8 |
| Colusa Generating Station | 6 | 18 | 24 |
| Total VOC Emissions (tons) | 54 | 74 | 60 |
| Humboldt Bay Power Plant | 28 | N/A | N/A |
| Humboldt Bay Generating Station | 19 | 66 | 47 |
| Gateway Generating Station | 8 | 7 | 8 |
| Colusa Generating Station | 0.02 | 1 | 4 |
- 1 Due to rounding conventions, some data above sum to an amount greater or less than the totals provided. Additionally, there were no reportable mercury emissions from PG&E’s facilities during 2010 to 2012.
- 2 The Humboldt Bay Power Plant (Humboldt Bay) facilities, two operating fossil fuel-fired plants and two mobile turbines, were retired at the end of September 2010.
- 3 The new high-performance Humboldt Bay Generating Station became operational in September 2010.
- 4 Colusa Generating Station became operational in December 2010.
| 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| National average, NOX | 1.20 lbs/MWh | 1.20 lbs/MWh | 1.19 lbs/MWh |
| PG&E’s emissions rate, NOX | 0.09 lbs/MWh | 0.06 lbs/MWh | 0.008 lbs/MWh |
| National average, SO2 | 3.11 lbs/MWh | 2.65 lbs/MWh | 2.44 lbs/MWh |
| PG&E’s emissions rate, SO2 | 0.003 lbs/MWh | 0.003 lbs/MWh | 0.0007 lbs/MWh |
- 1 Source of national average data is the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s Electric Power Annual Report.
Investing in Green Buildings
We have increased the number of PG&E LEED™-certification projects to 12 as part of our ongoing efforts to certify new buildings and large remodel projects. This includes LEED Platinum certification for our San Francisco Service Center Garage remodel. As shown below, this includes a range of facilities throughout our service area.
| Facility Name | Location | Scope | LEED™ level | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 245 Market Street | San Francisco | Existing building | LEED-EB Gold | Received April 2007 |
| Stockton Customer Service Office | Stockton | Major remodel—leased building | LEED-CI Silver | Received March 2010 |
| Gateway Generating Station—Administration Building | Antioch | New building | LEED-NC Certified | Received March 2010 |
| San Ramon Office Building | San Ramon | Major remodel—leased building | LEED-CI Certified | Received March 2010 |
| Grid Control Center | Vacaville | New building | LEED-NC Silver | Received April 2010 |
| 77 Beale, 25th Floor | San Francisco | Major remodel | LEED-CI Gold | Received June 2011 |
| Santa Rosa Service Center—Front Building | Santa Rosa | Major remodel | LEED-NC Certified | Received September 2011 |
| Bakersfield Service Center Operations Building | Bakersfield | Major remodel | LEED-NC Certified | Received January 2012 |
| Stockton Service Center Operations Building 2 | Stockton | Major remodel | LEED-NC Silver | Received January 2012 |
| Stockton Service Center Operations Building 1 | Stockton | Major remodel | LEED-NC Silver | Received April 2012 |
| Santa Rosa Service Center—Back Building | Santa Rosa | Major remodel | LEED-NC Certified | Received May 2012 |
| Colusa Generating Station—Administration Building | Colusa | New building | LEED-Certified (forecasted) | Expected in 2013 |
| San Francisco Service Center Garage | San Francisco | Major remodel | LEED-NC Platinum | Received in 2013 |
| General Office Headquarters Complex | San Francisco | Existing Building | LEED-EBOM Gold (forecasted) | Expected in 2013 |
| Energy Procurement Alternate Headquarters | Vacaville | New Building | LEED-NC Certified (forecasted) | Expected in 2014 |
In 2007, PG&E achieved LEED EB Gold certification for our 245 Market Street building in San Francisco, which is part of our corporate headquarters. In 2012, we resubmitted for the entire site, comprised of six combined structures that:
- Achieved an ENERGY STAR score of 92, meaning they are 92 percent more energy efficient than similar buildings.
- Diverts more than 90 percent of its waste from landfill through recycling and composting.
- Uses low-flow plumbing fixtures and automatic faucets to reduce potable water use by up to 40 percent.
- Uses energy efficient LED lighting in its garage area.
- Continues to upgrade its lighting and mechanical systems and controls.
- Offers alternative fueling stations and preferred parking for bicycles, van pools and alternative-fuel vehicles.
