Grid Neutral Schools Program

December 2008

GOING GRID NEUTRAL AT CALIFORNIA SCHOOLS

On December 9, 2008, the State and Consumer Services Agency announced the release of California's "grid neutral" guidebook; a step-by-step guide to help California schools and community colleges cut energy costs through on-site electricity generation. The program was spearheaded by the California State Architect and a team of environmental experts. It is the first comprehensive program for schools to use to create campuses that generate as much electrical energy as they consume in a year.

Grid Neutral Schools Guidebook

• GRID NEUTRAL: Electrical Independence for California Schools and Community Colleges (PDF - 2.51 MB) Guidebook Updated 02/01/09
• Guidebook excerpt – Why Go Grid Neutral: Business Case for Grid Neutral (PDF - 201 KB)
• PRESS RELEASE: Getting California Schools Off The Grid – New guidebook gives school officials step-by-step instruction to generate the power they consume (PDF - 32 KB)
• Grid Neutral Schools Video Uploaded 06/18/09

2010 Grid Neutral Schools Awards Press

California announced the Inaugural 2010 Grid Neutral Schools Awards at the Green California Summit on December 10, 2010 in Pasadena. See links to press release, presentation and additional Grid Neutral press provided below.

• PRESS RELEASE: Inaugural 2010 Grid Neutral Awards
• Inaugural 2010 Grid Neutral Schools Awards Ceremony Slideshow (PDF - 8.41 MB)
• Grid Neutral Schools Awards Presentation, December 10, 2010 (PDF - 1.21 MB)

'Riverbend received the top honor among public schools and school districts in the state as the first Grid Neutral Distinguished Campus. Steve Plaxco, director of maintenance and facilities for Yuba City Unified School District, could not be more proud of the state award.'

Read full article here: Riverbend's Energy Efficiency Earns State Honor

April 2010

GREEN CODE

DSA has now included grid neutral in the voluntary measures of the new Green Code, Title 24, Part 11; the first statewide green building code in the nation. For more information, visit the California Building Standards Commission website. The 2010 California Green Building Standards Code Application Matrix (PDF - 373 KB) is a quick reference to the provisions in the green code adopted by DSA.

September 2012

ZERO NET ENERGY (ZNE)

The next bold step beyond Grid Neutral is Zero Net Energy (ZNE). At the September 2012 Green California Schools/Community Colleges Summit, the DSA along with Lisa Gelfand (DSA Advisory Board Green Committee member) presented an Educational Session titled: “Moving from A to Z(ero) Net” (PDF - 5.61 MB) to introduce the concept of ZNE and provide easy, immediate actions for lowering energy in educational facilities. The DSA is encouraging schools and community colleges to start planning their facilities to meet the California Strategic Plan. The goal set is that all new commercial buildings and half of all existing commercial buildings, achieve Zero Net Energy (ZNE) by 2030.