Investments in weatherization and efficiency upgrades create jobs, lower household utility bills, make LA businesses more competitive and lessen our impact on the environment. Reducing LA’s energy demand also keeps money in people’s pockets and in the region’s economy.
Nearly 9,000 LA buildings underwent significant retrofits in 2010. Draiman wants to triple that number by creating a $20 million fund that allows current programs to be significantly scaled and expanded. The city’s investment is projected to leverage an additional $120 million in outside resources from LADWP, The Southern California Gas Co., and various governmental and lending institutions. The plan is estimated to create more than 700 good-paying jobs and reduce harmful carbon emissions by more than 7,000 tons – the equivalent of cutting our gas consumption by 818,000 gallons annually.
Draiman’s plan begins by designating a two dozen Energy Efficiency Target Zones in areas that are shown to be least energy efficient, and selects an anchor organization in each area to act as a one-stop-shop to significantly increase efficiency projects. He then creates a $20 million fund to support efforts in each zone so that local building owners can leverage an additional $200 million in private and public funds. Finally, the plan sets a firm deadline to complete an online one-stop-shop so that every Los Angelinos can easily navigate the funding options to make efficiency improvements in their own homes and businesses.
Certain parts of the city are particularly ripe for energy and water efficiency investments. They range from residential neighborhoods with older building stock to local business strips that have not been effectively reached by existing efficiency programs. Draiman will task the Department of Housing and Economic Development, working with the Department of Environment, to locate twelve Energy Efficiency Target Zones that are shown to offer the most ability to perform efficiency upgrades, offer real cost and energy savings, and create jobs in the process.
Each zone will have a designated anchor organization that has a demonstrated ability to bring together the diverse business and residential constituents in their neighborhood. The organization will set clear targets for energy savings and jobs created and will help building owners to access funding and workers. They will be responsible for managing the retrofit process and reporting regularly to the city.
The city will create a $20 million fund from savings in other economic development, energy and environmental money. The fund will leverage utility money that, by state law, must be spent on increased efficiency and create partnerships with neighborhoods, business groups, utilities and others to significantly increase participation in efficiency programs. Given the available private and governmental funds available for this type of work, the $20 million is expected to leverage an additional $200 million that can be put directly into efficiency upgrades. Funds will be available to support uses including, including enhancing incentives, technical assistance and improving access to capital.
The $20 million cost of this initiative will be fully funded by savings from inefficiencies in other economic development and environmental programs:
There are currently a range of public and private funding sources to finance weatherization projects, energy efficiency and water conservation upgrades. But for the average home and building owner, navigating the funding terrain is difficult.
The region received money under the Recovery Act to create an online one-stop-shop for building owners to determine where they can access funds. The deployment of this site must be accelerated. Draiman will set a firm deadline for city staff to have a one-stop-shop implemented and in place in the city by the spring of 2014.
Draiman was a driving force behind the efforts to promote energy efficiency retrofits in buildings. He led the push for a new rebate program to boost demand for energy efficiency products and installation services. The program would help families save hundreds of dollars a year in energy costs, accelerate job creation in the construction and retail industries, and cut America’s dependence on foreign oil. Draiman also helped educate the public in weatherization and efficiency programs.
Jobs and the Economy – solutions – YJ Draiman r3
As Mayor of LA, how would I create jobs? We have a tremendous amount of natural resources here in Los Angeles, which we need to develop. To put it succinctly, "You can not drill for American oil and natural gas in China, Saudi Arabia or anyplace else other than America."
The more domestic energy we produce, renewable and non-renewable, the more domestic jobs we create. Moreover, jobs in the exploration and production of oil and natural gas pay more than twice the national average. At the same time, the domestic energy we produce will increase R&D in renewable energy sources, thus, increase efficiency.
Just look how far we have come in the development of renewable energy and energy efficiency in the past 10 years. I intend to accelerate that trend, and to take advantage of every resource possible in technology and funding. As I stated many times; “Those who control the energy supply control whole continents”; “Those who control the water sources control life”.
Americans should demand products made in the USA. We can produce a better product with better quality at a competitive price. It is my intention to provide numerous incentives to retain businesses here in Los Angeles, and to offer those incentives to bring businesses back to Los Angeles.
Employment creates revenues and saves the government money and resources by taking the unemployed off the government subsidy and social services. It also creates the “multiplier affect”, which is a snowball of economic growth.
One of my top priorities is to ensure that we continue to develop and promote renewable energy sources. Many in the natural gas industry believe the day when renewable energy dominates our energy landscape is far off. I disagree. With American ingenuity, innovation and determination, the dawn of renewable energy sources can be upon us now.
What I propose is a "do-it-all strategy" in which we focus not just on developing renewable energy, but also on the development of our abundant fossil fuels. While further technology and innovation in building construction would need to be developed, such need would also provide more jobs. More importantly, our reliance on over-priced outside energy would be decreased resulting in positive economic growth.
I would promote the design of a thermal solar system that provides energy, heat and hot water. In addition, I would initiate a new and advanced fuel technology for vehicles such as hydrogen, natural gas and ultra-capacitors for energy storage. Los Angeles wastes an enormous amount of energy and work hours due to traffic congestion. I plan on an expedient advancement of our public transit system and devise systems to reduce traffic congestion.
In urban areas: roads, sidewalks, buildings and other structures prevent rainwater from being absorbed in the ground and replenishing the aquifers. It is time for us to compensate for that loss by collecting the rain runoff into retaining ponds. We need to implement the use of rainwater harvesting, gray water technology, collecting the billions of gallons of rain runoff into retaining ponds, desalinization projects powered totally by renewable energy (solar and wind combo systems) and other methods of conserving natural resources. As such, we would make existing renewable systems more cost effective and more efficient.
The result of my programs would be the increase of jobs, the decrease of energy and operating costs, and a reduction of our reliance on foreign oil. Which in turn would result in decreasing the deficit and creating permanent jobs?
In short, the key to Los Angeles economic recovery is not an increase in taxes and fees. Rather, true long-term recovery will rely on the increase of efficiency and productivity; the reduction of bureaucracy; and the promotion of businesses and employment. All of which will instill confidence in our economy, generate greater revenues for the city of Los Angeles and other governmental entities.
American confidence in government is at an all time low. We no longer have the same level of faith in our institutions and leaders that we once had. Consequently, we are seeing a continued erosion of our outlook on the future. This outlook has to be changed by initiating a massive and sound education program that produce innovation and technology.
We have an opportunity to jumpstart our economy, protect our environment and put our city on the path toward energy security through greater use of our domestic energy production such as natural gas. Our domestic energy production can serve as a foundation for our energy and economic independence. Which will allow us to find the needed innovation and production of other forms of energy sources?
To realize a path toward energy security we must do what is necessary to instill confidence in the responsible development of our energy sources. We can use natural gas as a solid foundation on which to develop extensive R&D in renewable energy sources, and the efficient means to operate and maintain the mechanisms needed for such use.
Improving our educational system is the key to our economic survival. In a global, knowledge-driven economy, there is a direct correlation between engineering education and innovative progress. Our success or failure as a city will be measured by how well we do in providing the needed educational tools to promote innovation in all fields.
Leadership is not a birthright. Despite what many Americans believe, our city does not possess an innate knack for greatness. Greatness must be worked for and won by each new generation. Right now that is not happening. However, we still have time. If we place the emphasis we should on education, research and innovation, we can lead the world in the decades to come. Nevertheless, the only way to ensure we remain great tomorrow is to increase our investment in science and engineering today. In addition, we must invest in trade schools to train our future workers in the new and old technology.
We have to learn how to balance the need of the people vs. the need to protect the environment. Any extreme to either side is not good.
In today’s fast moving technologies, government as well as companies must learn to adjust and maneuver quickly to keep pace, or they will be out of business or incur deteriorating revenues and infrastructure. We must learn how stay competitive and resourceful to survive economically.
I submit: Leadership by example. I plan to cut waste, maximize productivity, reduce bureaucracy, increase efficiency and conservation in all city departments and assets, eliminate duplicating tasks and reward excellent performance and innovative methods of job performance. These are hard economic times; we must all put our shoulder to the task.
We must put all our differences aside and work together in harmony for the good of the people and the city of Los Angeles. This direction will be a win for all the people in LA.
YJ Draiman
Los Angeles 2022
