As the implementer of PG&E’s Energy Savings Assistance Common Area Measures (ESA CAM) program, TRC helped deliver a LED lighting retrofit to an organization that provides no-cost housing to formerly homeless youth.
Pacific Gas and Electric Company’s (PG&E) Energy Savings Assistance Common Area Measures (ESA CAM) program helps affordable multifamily properties upgrade common areas and central systems by reducing cost through incentives and technical assistance that includes energy audits, benchmarking, and project design. Implemented by TRC since 2018, the ESA CAM program covers 100% of the eligible cost of qualifying energy upgrades to common areas and central systems. This includes community and laundry rooms, outdoor recreation areas, parking lots, and central heating and cooling systems.
TRC is proud to work with PG&E to implement the ESA CAM program to help affordable, low-income housing receive energy efficiency upgrades like those completed at AARTI Hotel in San Francisco.
Background
The AARTI Hotel, a property that houses formerly homeless youth in the Tenderloin District of San Francisco, completed a LED lighting retrofit in December 2020 through PG&E’s ESA CAM program. This historical building is managed by the Tenderloin Neighborhood Development Corporation (TNDC), a mission driven, value-led non-profit developer that specializes in providing affordable housing and services for low incomes residents in the Tenderloin district and throughout San Francisco.
The AARTI Hotel was built in 1907 and TNDC took over ownership in 1981. Since then, it has provided a safe, clean, and nurturing space for the area’s formerly homeless Transitional Age Youth (age 18-24). This 4-story building has 40 furnished single-occupancy rooms for youth transitioning from homelessness and working to improve their lives. Thanks to TNDC’s partner, Larkin Street Youth Services, AARTI Hotel also provides on-site amenities such as education and employment support, in addition to mental health and wellness services that provide residents with basic life-skill counseling and services to help them plan for a brighter future.
Over the last few years, the AARTI Hotel has undertaken several sustainability-focused renovations to upgrade outdated equipment and appliances aimed at lowering building operation and maintenance costs. An energy efficient building can help reduce costs and carbon emissions while also providing improving tenant safety and comfort.
TRC worked with TNDC to identify an energy efficiency upgrade scope that could be funded by the program. After conducting a on-site energy audit and benchmarking analysis, TRC identified a comprehensive lighting retrofit for the property’s common areas including several community rooms, five counseling offices, a reception area, computer lab, and kitchen, and walkways and stairwells. ESA CAM provided nearly $11,000 in funding for lighting upgrades at the AARTI Hotel.
Less efficient screw-in incandescent lights, linear fluorescents, and plug-in compact fluorescent lamps were replaced with efficient LED lamps, fixtures and retrofit kits. Occupancy sensors were also installed to reduce energy usage when lights are on or rooms are unoccupied. These upgrades are estimated to save AARTI Hotel more than $3,500 a year in utility bill costs in addition to an estimated 29,137 kWh savings annually, which is equivalent to CO2 emissions from non-renewable electricity use in four single-family homes over the course of one-year. These ongoing cost savings will allow TNDC to invest in other facility improvements or back into resident services, while still saving energy.
Installed ESA CAM Lighting Measures
- LED A-Lamp (57)
- LED Interior Fixtures (18)
- LED Linear Fixture (1)
- LED Wall Mounted Fixture (1)
- LED Tubes (28)
- Wall Mounted Occupancy Sensors (15)
Savings and Benefits
- Estimated energy savings: 29,137 kWh/year from lighting upgrades only
- Longer lasting fixtures and bulbs
- Decreased maintenance hours and cost
- Improved safety and visibility in common areas
- Consistent lighting temperature throughout
PG&E’s ESA CAM is no longer accepting applications for 2022, but all interested multifamily property owners can complete a program interest form here to have a property added to the waitlist for future program funding opportunities.