Local offices get mixed reviews when it comes to green
practices
A look at green practices among Hollister city staff, San Benito
County staff and Hollister School District staff yields a mixed
picture.
Local offices get mixed reviews when it comes to green practices
A look at green practices among Hollister city staff, San Benito County staff and Hollister School District staff yields a mixed picture.
No city owned buildings in Hollister use renewable resources, said Steve Wittry, Hollister’s engineering manager. Some office buildings date back to the ’50s. The new animal shelter, currently under construction, will use solar power, Wittry said.
“When the animal shelter building comes online, it will basically have zero net off of the energy grid,” Wittry said.
The system will last 20 years and pay for itself after about 10 years.
Hollister’s general plan instructs city staff to use renewable resources in new city buildings whenever possible.
City staff are researching whether wind can be used to power Hollister’s new wastewater treatment plant, Wittry said.
“We’re looking at completing it first,” Wittry said, “but I think it’s something we’re keeping in mind.”
San Benito County staff will incorporate green building techniques into the county’s new one-stop permit center, said Theresa Yee, Hollister’s capitol projects manager.
The building will house the planning, building and public works departments, Yee said.
It is too soon to say what techniques will be used, Yee said.
“We are hoping to incorporate some green features, but of course, we have to look at what are the cost of the features are,” said Art Henriques, San Benito County’s building and planning manager. “The board will want to know what the paybacks are.”
A lot of green building practices can save money as well as the environment, Henriques said.
Currently, Hollister School District officials have no plans to use renewable energy, said Jack Bachofer, chief business official for the Hollister School District.
“We are aware of some school districts putting in solar panels,” Bachofer said, “but right now the focus is on operational [expenses].”
And when it comes to regulating temperature, there are no rules in city, county or district offices.
“We’re not trying to have it excessively chilly or warm,” Bachofer said.
Hollister and San Benito County buildings all use energy-efficient florescent light bulbs.
Staff for the Association of Monterey Bay Area Governments (AMBAG), a regional planning body, replaced the old lighting in seven city-owned buildings in late 2007.
“It was no cost to the city,” Lee said. “We’re saving a total of 216,768 kilowatt hours annually, which is significant dollar savings.”
At no cost to the county, PG&E staff retrofitted the lighting in 24 county buildings with energy efficient florescent light bulbs in January, Yee said.
“We saved 570,782-kilowatt hours,” Yee said. “The county’s projected savings are $79,909.”
Hollister School District Officials do not mandate florescent light bulbs, Bachofer said.
District officials have not had an energy audit from PG & E staff recently, Bachofer said. An energy audit would inform district officials about what would make schools more energy efficient, Bachofer said.
“We should always be looking at energy saving opportunities,” Bachofer said.
No city, county, or district vehicles run on renewable resources.
City staff do not have the money to purchase new vehicles, Wittry said.
County staff are looking into purchasing hybrid vehicles, said Richard Inman, assistant county administrative officer.
When asked about the use of recylced paper, Peggy Hone, Hollister’s senior account technician, said staff for each city department order their own supplies so its not really tracked.
“We’re encouraged to use recycled paper,” Hone said. “We try to keep our costs down for the city. A lot of times recycled paper is more expensive.”
Some county departments use recycled paper, Yee said. The public works department purchases recycled paper sometimes.
Photocopiers in the district administrative office do not use recycled paper, Bachofer said.
“There might be some recycled paper in the classrooms,” Bachofer said, “but I haven’t seen it here in the district office in the photocopiers.”
City, county and school district staff do not know whether there are any energy star approved appliances.
New appliances will be energy star approved, said Clint Quilter, Hollister’s city manager.
“Nothing new has been purchased for quite a while,” Quilter said.
Inman does not think that any appliances in the county are Energy Star approved. County staff have not purchased new appliances recently, Inman said.
Bachofer does not remember seeing the energy star label on any district appliances.
They also installed energy saving devices on soft drink machines, Lee said. Instead of the machines cooling soft drinks at all times, a sensor turns on the machine when someone walks into the room, Lee said.
City, county and district staff all participate in recycling programs.
Green report card
Hollister
Recycle Yes
Recycled Paper Whatever is cheapest.
Florescent light bulbs yes
Energy Star Appliances Don’t know
Renewable energy No
Thermostat setting No Policy
Bike Racks outside offices Some
Vehicles using renewable energy No
Carpool/work from home incentives No
San Benito County
Recycle Yes
Recycled Paper No Policy
Florescent light bulbs Yes
Energy Star Appliances Don’t know
Renewable energy No
Thermostat setting No
Bike Racks outside offices Some Vehicles using renewable energy No
Carpool/work from home incentives No
Hollister School District
Recycle Yes
Recycled Paper Don’t know Florescent light bulbs No policy
Energy Star Appliances Don’t know
Renewable energy No
Thermostat setting Don’t know
Bike Racks outside offices Yes
Vehicles using renewable energy No
Carpool/work from home incentives No
