HarborWalk Plaza Awarded LEED Silver

We’re delighted to announce that HarborWalk Plaza in Morro Bay has been awarded LEED Silver certification! The boutique hotel and retail project is the first commercial LEED-certified project in Morro Bay.

Co-Owners Cherisse Hansson and Travis Leage noted, “With our deep roots in this community and our commitment to caring for the environment for future generations, LEED certification was a natural fit for our project. We are thrilled to achieve this milestone.”

Specific achievements for HarborWalk Plaza include:

·      Low-flow plumbing fixtures, drought-tolerant plants and rainwater catchment reduce water use by 45%.

·      Efficient heat pump mechanical systems, LED lighting, excellent insulation, high-performance windows and strategic overhangs reduce energy and increase thermal comfort. With the addition of solar panels on the roof, total energy use has been reduced by 55%.

·      Light-colored roof and paving materials reduce the heat-island effect for the project, helping keep the site cool and aligned with natural conditions.

·      Indoor health for occupants is improved with low-emitting finishes, individual thermal controls and excellent daylighting in guest rooms and public spaces.

Financial Savings through LEED and Commissioning

In addition to providing LEED certification services, our team worked with Larry Myrick to provide fundamental and enhanced commissioning of energy systems, which turned out to be particularly impactful. During commissioning, we observed that the anticipated energy savings from the PV system were not being achieved; through troubleshooting, we helped identify an oversight in the utility connection. Based on the feedback, the grid-tied connections were reset, and the owners are now seeing the savings as anticipated.

Congratulations to the entire HarborWalk Plaza Team!

·      Owner-Builder: TLC Family Enterprises

·      LEED Certification: In Balance Green Consulting

·      Architect: Chris Parker

·      Mechanical Engineer: BMA Mechanical +

·      Electrical Engineer: JMPE Electrical Engineering

·      Stormwater: Ahsirt Engineering

Girls Build Summer Academy - Lessons in Insulation

In collaboration with 3C-REN, we were delighted to be invited to present again at the annual Girls Build Summer Academy here in San Luis Obispo.  Organized by Cal Poly Construction Management, and funded in part by local industry members, the five-day camp hosts young women from all over southern California. 

The week’s activities run the gamut from “Tool training” to plumbing and electrical projects to planning, designing and building playhouses that will be donated to local families through Habitat for Humanity.

In Balance was offered a chance to speak about energy efficiency and the role of different insulation types in achieving a project’s goals. We know…. exciting stuff! Luckily, the camp organizers were up for a hands-on approach to the material, so after a couple of slides (ok thirteen), the campers got to dig into loose-fill cellulose, cut denim batts and try their hands at applying house wrap around pesky penetrations.

A big shout-out to Mike Horgan of Cairn Collaborative Design Build for providing supplies and construction wisdom, both in abundance!

Energy Code & CALGreen Blogs at 3C-REN

Looking for more helpful tips for compliance with the Title 24 Energy Code or CALGreen? As part of our partnership with the Tri-Counties Regional Energy Network (3C-REN), our Code Coach team writes a monthly blog posted on the 3C-REN website. Recent topics include:

Certified Energy Analyst (CEA), Who They Are and Where to Find Them provides information about the Title 24 energy standards professional accreditation program – a brief history, training required, scope of work and how to find one.

Are Water Submeters Required for an ADU? originated from a local jurisdiction requesting clarity on a CALGreen submeter requirement and if it would apply to a new ADU.

Checking for Compliance with Title 24 Commissioning Requirements highlights key processes and documents to keep you on track for commissioning.

Other recent topics include Global Warming Potential for Refrigerants, Title 24 forms for window replacements, HERS requirements for kitchen exhaust, and why there are two sets of climate zones overlapping in California. Check out the full library at 3C-REN.org.

Escalante Meadows Achieves GreenPoint Rated Gold Certification

In Balance Green Consulting is very excited to announce that the Escalante Meadows community has achieved GreenPoint Rated Gold Certification! In Balance worked alongside the Housing Authority of the County of Santa Barbara (HASBARCO), GreenPoint Rater, Josh Gardner, Arris Studio, and Ashwood Construction on GreenPoint Rated, Title 24 compliance and energy optimization, and Commissioning.

The recently completed multifamily housing development in Guadalupe consists of 10 residential buildings that house 80 affordable housing units of 1-, 2-, 3-, and 4-bedroom apartments and a two-story community center. The almost 9-acre site includes many amenities such as playgrounds, a basketball court, barbecue and picnic area, and community garden space.

The community center is unique in that it serves not just the residents, but provides excellent resources for the larger community, including computer labs, a wellness clinic, offices, an all-electric commercial kitchen and gathering space, a children’s center with classrooms and a play area, and more.

The project team prioritized pursuing an all-electric design very early in the design process. Not only was the goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but also to eliminate combustion through the burning of fossil fuels, which improves indoor air quality for residents, creating a healthier indoor environment. Each residential unit utilizes heat pumps for space conditioning, an integrated heat pump water heater, and ENERGY STAR appliances. The water heater and outdoor heat pump unit are located outside on each residential unit’s balcony area as seen above, with the water heater in an outdoor closet.

The extensive PV system consists of photovoltaic modules spread across 11 parking carports and a few of the buildings’ roof areas. The system is estimated to produce approximately 444,875 kWh of electricity per year, offsetting almost 80% of the project’s total estimated electricity usage for all residential buildings and the community building.

In Balance also provided Commissioning services for the residential and community buildings, commissioning the HVAC, water heating, lighting, and landscape irrigation systems. This ensures the systems are functioning properly and allows for corrections to be made to optimize performance.

Going forward, all new multifamily housing projects pursuing GreenPoint Rated are required to be all-electric. The Escalante Meadows project is an excellent example of what a high performing, all-electric multifamily housing community can look like, which is reflected in the GreenPoint Rated Gold certification. Congratulations to the team on certification!