2012 Year Report, January 15, 2013

Advocacy Committee: USGBC Caribbean Chapter

Chair: Jesus A. Garay, LEED AP, PMP

COMMITTEE DESCRIPTION

The Advocacy Committee, directed by Jesus A. Garay, is focused on proposing, monitoring, advancing and
lobbying state and local green building policy, establishing relationships with public officials at the state and
local level, actively following legislation moving in the state capital, and addressing public issues through
governmental, private institutions and community groups.
The Committee is particularly interested in legislative projects related to energy conservation and renewable
energy sources, LEED design and construction incentives and other issues promoting sustainable development.
The Committee is composed of a Chair (Jesus A. Garay, LEED AP) who is a member of the Chapters Governing
Board, and various, at large, members. The Chapters primary contact for Public Policy and Advocacy initiatives
is the Advocacy Committee Chair.

COMMITTEE MISSION STATEMENT

This committee is focused on proposing, monitoring and advancing state and local green building policy for a
more sustainable built environment by fostering social equity, transparency and inclusiveness.

2012 COMMITTEE STRATEGY

For 2012, we aligned the committees programs and initiatives with the USGBC Nationals own initiatives. Our
focus was to:
o Innovate by advancing effective, cutting edge innovation in green building vision, theory, practice,
design and construction
o Activate, develop and maintain alliances and coalitions with groups that share our commitment to
improve the health and well-being of humans and all life through creative engagement
o Facilitate, foster and grow new alliances.
o Collaborate with other committees and with relevant social justice and quality of life initiatives to
integrate the theories and practices of social and economic justice with those of sustainable buildings
by providing training, resources, and communications support
o Educate building designers, owners and users about the role of the built environment in climate change
and resource depletion and the tools available to reduce carbon foot prints
o Advocate public policy agenda that ensures that the benefits of green building become available to
currently underserved populations.

2012 PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES

Aligned with our strategy, we identified 4 focus areas of particular importance to Puerto Rico.
Although the agenda was an ambitious one, we
considered it important because:
1. First, it is focused on the mission and
purpose of the chapter.
2. Secondly, because the agenda was aligned
with the goals outlined above by past
policies, so that it could forge a sequence and
continuity in the growth of the chapter.
3. Third, because the agenda was focused on
strategic alliances; especially in
strengthening the ones already formed and
develop new partnerships. These alliances
allow us to foster synergy between
committees, particularly between the
Education and Green Jobs Committee, grow on the achievements already made and increase our enrollment,
our income and our relevance as agents of change and progress.

COMMITTEE REPORT
Education & Community Outreach

We continue to make numerous presentations about our organizations mission to different private and
governmental groups.
Jesus Garay, Vincent Pieri and Onell Gonzales (2012 Education Committee Chair) have been influential in these
activities. Jesus Garay and Onell Gonzalez gave a presentation to the private university SUAGM which
resulted in a MOU of cooperation to help them implement their sustainability program at their campuses.
Vincent Pieri is following up.
Jesus also gave presentations to students of the Polytechnic University with the help of Adriana Bultron (Green
Jobs Chair) and Fernando Abrua.
Jesus Garay gave a presentation to the architect in charge of the sustainable design curriculum of the Ponces
School of Architecture, which together with the help of Adriana Bultron, opened the collaboration with the
university to allow the Education chair Onell Gonzales, present a well-received course for LEED GA in Ponce.
Jesus Garay participated in a public forum organized by San Juan Community College, to address the Natural
Gas Duct proposal of the central government.
o

Several agencies and community groups were present, including a gubernatorial candidate and the
director of the PR Solid Waste Administration. Our focus was on how being energy and resource
efficient on the demand side of the energy supply chain can provide better control and energy savings,
regardless of the supply side.
On 4 occasions, Jesus Garay appeared, during prime time, on an FM radio program, discussing how energy
efficiency in existing buildings through retrofits can help our cities, businesses and communities become
sustainable.
Jesus Garay gave presentations on Interphex, at the PR Convention Center about the USGBC Transformative
Mission.

Jesus Garay and Fernando Abrua gave over 50 presentations about LEED and its role in climate change
mitigation in several agricultural fairs, in different municipalities, and organizations thus expanding our
audience. Over 500 people attended these presentations
Jesus Garay, with the help of Peggy Van Kirk, gave a LEED for Homes presentation at the College of Engineering
of the Interamerican University, Bayamon Campus to more than 50 engineering students and their professors.

Cool Cities

Along with Jesus A. Garay, Brenda Martinez, and Fernando Abrua, our Chapter continues to have a leading
role in the Sierra Clubs Cool Cities Project.
A Model Municipal Ordinance, using LEED Standards, was presented to 9 municipalities in 2012.
22 municipalities have signed the US Mayors Climate Protection Agreement.
3 of those 22, have passed municipal legislation adopting LEED as their sustainable guidelines for municipal
buildings and/or to seek LEED certification of its buildings.
Various walk through Energy Audits were performed and personally discussed with municipal government
employees in various municipalities.
o We also provided a series of presentations discussing climate change and how high performance
buildings can mitigate its effects.
o The municipality of Loiza, after our energy audit and presentation, performed a retrofit of its City Hall
building based on the Energy Efficiency & Conservation Measures (ECMs) presented by chapter
members.
o The municipal government also implemented a recycling program in 8 schools, with the help of chapter
members.

Government Affairs & Energy Efficiency

Jesus Garay met with PR Energy Affairs Administration (PREEA) Director, Luis Bernal, to promote and expand
the alliance between the EAA and the USGBC- US Caribbean Chapter and continue as consultants in their State
Energy programs.
Vincent Pieri, Fernando Abrua, Brenda Martinez, Jesus Garay, and several other chapter members contributed
in several of the State Energy programs such as EECBG, Weatherization, Sun Energy, Wind Energy, and Green
Energy.
Several state government buildings were retrofitted for
energy efficiency with the help of chapter members,
particularly Vincent Pieri and Fernando Abrua.
o One particular building was the Cuartel de
Ballaja, a historic building seeking LEED EB:
O&M certification.
It has a 150 kW PV system, and a green
roof, among its green building
strategies.
o Another such building is the WAP Training Center/PREAA.

EECBG
o With the help of Jesus A. Garay, and other chapter members, the Energy Efficiency and Conservation
Block Grant program is expected to provide annual savings of $818,952.15 dollars, 3.03 MWh of
electricity, 4,653,367 lbs. of CO2 and 1,748 oil barrels in Puerto Rico
WAP
o With the help of Brenda Martinez and other chapter members, the State WAP program helped close to
15,000 homes to be weatherized.
o The average investment per household: $4,200. The average annual savings per unit: 1140 kWh. The
average annual savings resulting from the program: 17.1 million kWh. Jobs created: 301 direct; 150
indirect
Abrua worked with the Puerto Rico Architects and Landscape Architects Association's efforts to develop a
Conceptual Land Use Plan to be presented to the community at large. This plan will be made public very soon

Green Codes, Standards & Guidelines

Puerto Rico adopted the International Construction Codes and has created a new Green Permit law to provide
incentives for green building projects.
o To educate the design and construction professionals in the new codes and the new green permits
system, Jesus Garay and Francisco Castaner, under Vincent Pieris leadership, has prepared a
curriculum concerning greening the codes, standards and guidelines, such as LEED, the IGCC, and the
new Green permits.
o Vincent Pieri met with the Education directors of both the college of Architects and the college of
Engineers to coordinate the training sessions.
o As of Jan. 1st of 2011, the adopted codes and standards establish minimum design and construction
requirements to build an energy efficient structure. Commercial structures to have energy savings
equal or greater than those established by ASHRAE 90.1-2007 and Residential structures to have
energy savings equal or greater than those established by IECC 2009. These codes will make structures
35% more efficient.

Membership

The committee has 5 active members

State and Local Advocacy

The Advocacy committee continues actively participating as part of the PR Conservation Trust committee
Puerto Rico Brilla Naturalmente, a Dark Sky Pollution Prevention initiative for Puerto Rico.
A Dark Sky Code has been approved, under the leadership of the Conservation Trust through its Puerto Rico
Brilla Naturalmente committee and with our participation.
Amendments to the existing Dark Sky law were approved with the endorsement of a wide segment of the
government and related professional and scientific communities.
o These amendments were presented to the Natural Resources committee of the Senate of Puerto Rico.
o Our Chapter presented its points of view through a presentation by Fernando Abrua.
o A Model Municipal Ordinance was drafted using LEED Standards.
o Recommendations for the mitigation of light pollution at the Bioluminescent Bay in Vieques Island
were also prepared by Fernando Abrua.

A NEW CODE FOR ENERGY-EFFICIENT CONSTRUCTION

Our efforts to promote the adoption of the International Building Code locally have been successful.
The Energy Affairs Administration adopted the code for Puerto Rico.
The recently enacted Puerto Rico Building Energy Conservation Code incentivizes adoption of renewable energy
by requiring new buildings to contain hookups to renewable- energy systems and solar water heaters.
It also mandates ceiling and window treatments and materials aimed at keeping homes cooler.
The code is aimed at reducing overall costs over the life of a building, but up-front costs will go up. While Bernal
and his team say the cost increases will be in the neighborhood of 5%, industry officials fear they could reach
15% or more.
The additional costs, plus the need to train a range of professionals in the new requirements and techniques,
are behind the decision to phase in the new rules over several years, with the code setting a target of 90%
compliance by new building projects that meet the energy standards by March 2017.
The new Energy Code will begin to apply to new schools and government buildings in 2013, then will take effect
for housing and institutional projects the following year.
Utilities and commercial operations will kick in come 2015, followed by business and residential projects in
2016.
The new regulations are part of a requirement that jurisdictions benefiting from ARRA funding must bring local
codes up to American Society of Heating, Refrigeration& Air-Conditioning Engineers and International Energy
Conservation Code standards, Bernal said.
The code requires the use of materials, including tinted windows and new roofing materials, to reflect heat off
a building and to prevent heat from entering, to keep them cooler inside.
It also requires increased sealing to improve efficiency of air-conditioning and other units, as well as keep
outside air from entering a room.
Other provisions require the use of energy-saving bulbs in 50% of all lights, which would cut consumption by
70%, as well as outlets and receptacles for renewable-energy systems.

Alliances

Puerto Rico Recycling Partnership.

o Together with the Environmental Protection Agency, we presented a grant proposal to provide job
training for brownfield workforce using LEED Standards. The advocacy chair is a member of the
Government Affairs committee of the PRRP, to promote LEED Material & Resources guidelines for its
implementation on the PRRP initiatives

PR Wind Alliance
o This public/private alliance between the USGBC Caribbean and the Energy Affairs Administration will promote the
development of wind energy projects in our island.

The PR Wind Alliance was duly incorporated and its Board of Directors constituted with their approved
by laws and regulations. The Advocacy Chair is a member of that founding board of directors.

A national symposium on Wind Generators and Eolic Energy is programed to take place in 2014.

LEGISLATION

ACT NO. 82. JULY 19, 2010.

o Created the Puerto Rico Energy Diversification through Sustainable and Alternative Renewable Energy
Policy Act; lay down rules to foster the generation of renewable energy, in accordance with short-,
medium-, and long-term compulsory goals, known as the Renewable Portfolio Standard;
o Created the Puerto Rico Renewable Energy Commission as the identity in charge of overseeing compliance
with the Renewable Portfolio Standard hereby established and clarify its duties;

Clarify the duties of the Administration of Energy Affairs in relation to the Commission and the Renewable
Portfolio Standard; and other related purposes.

Ley Nm. 29 de 2012: Dark Sky Law

GREEN ENERGY FUND

The Puerto Rico Green Energy Incentives Act of 2010

created the Green Energy Fund (GEF) to increase green
energy production and promote sustainability in Puerto
Rico.
Through the GEF, the Government of Puerto Rico will coinvest up to $290 million in the development of renewable
energy projects on the island.
Starting July 1, 2011, $20 million will be allocated to the
GEF; funding then escalates to $40 million by fiscal year
2017.
INCENTIVES. The Green Energy Fund offers rebates of up
to 60% of the eligible costs for Tier 1 (0-100 kW) projects
and up to 50% for Tier 2 (101 kW - 1 MW) projects.
o Tier 1 rebates for each funding cycle will be
allocated on a first-come, first-served basis while
Tier 2 rebates will be awarded through a quarterly
competitive process.
o Eligible technologies and the methodology to
calculate the incentive amount are presented in
the Tier 1 and Tier 2 Reference Guides

Natural Reserve of the Ecological Corridor of the

Northeast (CEN) Law No. 126 of June, 25 2012

This measure declares and designates as nature

reserve all public land and patrimonial belonging or
managed by any agency, public corporation, or
instrumentality of the Government of Puerto Rico in
the area of the Northeast ecological corridor (CEN) and
declares as public policy the preservation,
conservation and restoration of all of its land.
Protects those lands within the NEC that are of public
domain, which comprise 1,957 acres (792 hectares), or
two-thirds of its original designation.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northeast_Ecological_C
orridor)

Act Nm. 276 de 29 de septiembre de 2012

Law for the intelligent infrastructure development in Puerto Rico (Smartgrowth).

Ley Nm. 83-2010: Ley de Incentivos para Energa Verde

It creates the Fund for green energy (FEV), whereby the Government of Puerto Rico will invest $290 million in
projects of renewable energy for the next 10 years; initially allocating some $20millones, from the 1st of July
2011.
FEV provides flexibility to the Government establish new incentives and/or new investment programs in the
future.
The law provides several tax benefits for companies engaged in the production of renewable energy on a
commercial scale

Ley Nm. 201 del 16 de diciembre de 2010

Law to declare public policy on the adoption of the concept of complete streets or "Complete Streets"

END OF REPORT