“This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity
regarding the resources and advisory services that CCsE can offer.
to establish policies and programs at the local After lunch, McAllister met with
the manager of CCsE’s solar
jurisdiction level that support sustainable decisions.” Water-Heating Pilot Program.
They discussed using stimulus
— Andrew McAllister, funds to create a training pro-
gram for inspectors and permit-
California Center for Sustainable Energy ting officials, so they will better
understand solar water-heating
technology. On Wednesday, he
flew to sacramento for an all-day
workshop with the California
Energy Commission, where he
spoke about the implementation
of homeowner loan programs,
authorized by Assembly Bill
811, to finance energy efficiency
and distributed renewable energy
in the san Diego region. The group
considered ways to integrate
AB 811 financing with federal
stimulus funds.
McAllister is happy to put
in long hours, especially now
that his programs have traction.
“We’re really inside the clean
energy maelstrom these days,
which is very exciting,” he says.
“CCsE is in a position to inject
hard-won lessons and market-
with CCsE’s energy and public affairs manag- place knowledge, garnered from running real
ers, he meets with city managers to help them programs, into the policy process at a high
apply for resources, prioritize the use of stimu- level. times have changed from 20 years ago
lus funds and leverage those funds to develop when clean energy was a small, underappreci-
local and regional energy solutions. ated niche area. This evolution is gratifying to
No day is typical or uninteresting on this see, even if overdue.”
job. In addition to collaborating with city offi- McAllister has 18 years of experience in
cials, McAllister supervises 13 hard-working renewable energy systems. He studied both
staffers. His department runs the California engineering and art history at Dartmouth, then
solar Initiative, the self-generation Incen- earned a master’s degree in energy and resourc-
tive Program and the solar Water-Heating es at the university of California-Berkeley.
Program, and it plays a central role in guiding He worked for more than a decade with the
CCsE's efforts in the policy and regulatory National Rural Electric Cooperative Associa-
arenas. “We have a terrific staff,” he says. “It is tion as renewable energy and energy-efficien-
deeply satisfying to work with a team of pas- cy specialist in Central and south America,
sionate, idealistic people who communicate southeast Asia and Africa. He was a project
well, demonstrate respect and show a high manager at Energy solutions, a consulting firm
degree of professionalism.” in Oakland, and an energy-efficiency analyst at
On a recent weekend, McAllister was a lawrence Berkeley National laboratory.
keynote speaker at a green career conference. Now he’s confident that the san Diego
On tuesday morning, he met with the mayor region will achieve collaborative energy goals,
and deputy city manager of san Marcos to and the process brings him a profound sense
discuss their energy plan. Part of his job of satisfaction. “local jurisdictions are key,
involves educating municipal officials as they have huge influence over the market-
place,” he says. “We cannot do it without them.
They are close to residents and businesses and
influence key aspects of how we live. Cities
are staffed by dedicated people who live in the
communities they serve, which can make them
wonderful agents for change. When CCsE
has been a central catalyst for a needed policy
change or when we conduct a truly productive and well-timed workshop, that makes me
feel great!”
CALIFORNIA CENTER FOR SUSTAINABLE ENERGY
through efforts including public outreach, Program Director
andrew Mcallister works to facilitate collaboration among 19
cities to reduce regional emissions.
Katrina Phruksukarn is secretary of the San Diego
Renewable Energy Society, an American Solar
Energy Society chapter. She spent eight years as a
medical administration officer in the Army National
Guard, where she gained a unique perspective on
the importance of creating an energy-independent
nation. Contact her at contact.katrina@yahoo.com.
Building Performance Analyst:
Vikram Sami
By Gina r. JohnSon
VIkRAM sAMI Is IN
hot demand.
As the senior
building performance
analyst at the Atlanta
office of lord, Aeck &
sargent (lAs), sami
applies his energy analysis talents to projects
ranging from educational facilities to research
buildings and multifamily housing. More than
ever, the architectural firm’s clients are requesting low-energy building designs to reduce
utility expenses and create healthy, productive environments for employees. By analyzing
the energy systems in a proposed building or
renovation plan, sami is able to recommend
design choices for optimal efficiency.
lAs has a strong record of sustainable
design. The firm has about 150 staffers in
three u.s. offices, focusing on five architectural
areas: cultural, education, historic preservation, science and housing and mixed use. In
2007, it became one of the first architectural
firms to adopt the Architecture 2030 Challenge to dramatically reduce energy usage in
new and renovated buildings.
Clients’ increased interest in energy-saving
design has changed sami’s duties a bit. “It’s
transitioned from a really concentrated focus
on a select number of ‘deep green’ projects to
