The Cupertino Courier

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Leadership group wants to create a 'Solar Valley'

By Crystal Lu

Carl Guardino, CEO of Silicon Valley Leadership Group, told the Cupertino Rotary Club at a Jan. 2 luncheon meeting that his organization is working on transforming Silicon Valley into "Solar Valley."

"When it comes to an important issue like climate change, we can be enraged or engaged," said Guardino.

Guardino stressed the importance of green building by stating that buildings in the United States account for 36 percent of total energy use, 30 percent of greenhouse gas emissions and 30 percent of waste output.

The city of Cupertino has been a leader in green building, he said, referring to the voluntary program the city launched last October.

According to Guardino, SVLG and the Santa Clara County Cities Association worked together on a green building initiative. Cupertino was one of the first cities that adopted the initiative.

SVLG is a nonprofit organization that engages leaders of member companies in major public policy issues.

Guardino said another crucial project SVLG is working on involves transportation, which accounts for almost 41 percent of greenhouse gas emissions in California and 50 percent in the Bay Area.

The SVLG organizes a CEO/Celebrity Cycle-to-Work Day every year in mid-May. More than 50 CEOs participated in 2007.

The 210 member employers in the SVLG created the Clean and Green Alternative Energy Action Plan at the end of 2006.

The plan includes the vision of a solar industry in Silicon Valley in seven areas:

*Developing standards for installation;

*Equipment performance;

*Utility interconnection;

*Streamlining building permitting;

*Ensuring adequate workforce training;

*Creating accessible financing models; and

*Facilitating new technology development and market dispersion.

The plan also describes energy efficiency as one of the most effective means of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Guardino advocates using compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs as a simple way of achieving energy efficiency.

He said CFL bulbs consume one fifth of the wattage of incandescent bulbs but give the same amount of light.