Cutting-Edge All-Electric Buildings Sought For Annual Awards

REDWOOD CITY, CA – Oct. 4, 2022 – Peninsula Clean Energy and New Buildings Institute are launching a call for entries for their third-annual joint awards program. This program spotlights all-electric commercial and residential innovation that can help modernize aging buildings and reduce related harmful pollution across San Mateo County and the City of Los Banos.

The All-Electric Leadership Awards and Directory invites designers, builders, developers and owners of all-electric, high performance residential and commercial buildings in San Mateo County and the City of Los Banos to submit projects for awards. Award winners will receive a $2,000 cash prize, customized plaque, and will be given the opportunity to highlight their work during the All-Electric Building Leadership Awards hosted by Sustainable San Mateo County in spring 2023.

The deadline for 2023 award submissions is November 18, 2022, and more details can be found at http://www.peninsulacleanenergy.com/all-electric-awards-program/. Winners will be chosen by the end of February 2023 by an Awards Selection Committee consisting of independent experts in building design and electrification.

“I believe that it’s important to recognize how our own communities, businesses and neighbors are constructing cost-effective buildings that are not just beautiful but also resilient, sustainable and attainable,” said IDeAs Consulting Founder David Kaneda, the Chair of the General Services Administration’s Green Building Advisory Committee and member of the 2023 Awards Selection Committee

Projects will be evaluated based on leadership, innovation, building energy impact, building design and operations and quality of the application narrative. Find out more about the scoring criteria in the FAQs.

The average age of buildings across both San Mateo County and the City of Los Banos is 52 years. Older buildings have a higher likelihood of widespread inefficient building envelopes, electrical and mechanical systems. In addition, greenhouse gasses resulting from the use of methane gas in heating and other applications in buildings also represent at least 30 percent of all such heat-trapping emissions in San Mateo County. Upgrades to buildings can help solve both of these problems.

“As the recent heat wave demonstrated, the impacts from climate change are increasing and so is the need to reduce heat-trapping methane emissions from our aging buildings,” Peninsula Clean Energy CEO Jan Pepper said. “This year’s suite of awards will showcase innovation that can make lasting reductions in emissions and will raise the profile of building electrification in San Mateo County, the City of Los Banos and across the state and nation.”

Up to four awards and other public recognition will be given in two categories:

The Half Moon Bay Library will produce as much energy onsite as the building will use over the course of the year with no carbon-based fuels. 

All-Electric Commercial Leader

Two awards will be given that spotlight fully electric commercial or multi-family residential buildings that are completed, currently under construction or have finalized designs. All buildings must be located or planned to be located in the County of San Mateo or the City of Los Banos. Eligible projects include both renovated buildings and new construction.

All-Electric Residential Leader

Two awards will be given to fully-electric residential projects that have already been completed within the County of San Mateo or City of Los Banos. Projects currently under construction are not eligible but are encouraged to apply in the next round if completed by that time. Eligible residential projects may be single family dwellings or accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and include both renovated buildings and new construction.

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About Peninsula Clean Energy.  Peninsula Clean Energy is a Community Choice Aggregation agency. It is the official electricity provider for San Mateo County and for the City of Los Banos. Founded in 2016 with a mission to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the agency serves a population of 810,000 by providing more than 3,600 gigawatt hours annually of electricity that is 50 percent renewable, 100 percent clean and at lower cost than PG&E. As a community-led, not-for-profit agency, Peninsula Clean Energy makes significant investments in its communities to expand access to sustainable and affordable energy solutions. Peninsula Clean Energy is on track to deliver electricity that is 100 percent renewable by 2025. The agency has earned investment grade credit ratings from Moody’s and Fitch. Follow us at PenCleanEnergy.comTwitterFacebook and LinkedIn.

About New Buildings Institute.  New Buildings Institute (NBI) is a nonprofit organization working to drive significantly higher levels of energy performance in the built environment resulting in better energy efficiency and reduced carbon emissions. NBI is administering the Peninsula Clean Energy All-Electric Building Leadership Awards program. Learn more at http://www.newbuildingsin.wpenginepowered.com

Media Contacts:

Stacey Hobart
New Buildings Institute
[email protected]

Darren Goode
Peninsula Clean Energy
[email protected]
(202) 550-6619