Mark Gander, GPC Board member and AECOM Director, was among a group of leading scientists, researchers, innovators, officials, and corporate leaders to present recently at the World Green Energy Symposium (WGES) at the City University of New York (CUNY) in New York City. His “Integrated Solutions in Sustainable Green Energy and Transportation” presentation focused on clean renewable energy; transportation; electric car vehicles; green parking; and place-based strategies such as an eco-district or transit-oriented development that are comprehensive ways to optimize land use efficiency, energy and water and to create jobs.

1. Images, top to bottom:
Cedar Creek Wind Farm - Energy
Northumbria University – Building Engineering
Spen Valley Wastewater Treatment Plant – UK
NASA Ames Research Center, CA
Loyola Marymount, MD, USA
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3. Committed to addressing the complete spectrum of energy challenges, we offer
expertise in clean energy (renewable energy, bio-energy, generation efficiency,
smart grid distribution and power storage), energy efficiency and carbon
management, thermal power generation, transmission and distribution and wind and
solar power generation.
AECOM is a leader in providing integrated planning and energy solutions for a
new sustainable future. From the east coast to the west coast, we help our clients
reduce energy consumption, develop renewable sources, improve grid reliability and
cut emissions from fuels already in use.
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4. The global shift to clean energy is all about systems. And not just one system
either. It interacts with politics, regulation and finance, as well as with adjacent
industries such as transportation, real estate and telecoms.
One of the main implications is that analysis at the level of just one clean energy
technology will only get you so far. The value of a solar rooftop in a world of electric
vehicles is very different from the value of the same solar rooftop in a world without.
The value of demand response is negligible in a world optimized around “baseload-
plus-peak” generating capacity. The value of energy efficiency is negligible in a
world of fuel subsidies. And so on.
The reality of the world’s energy transition: it is dynamic, complex, unpredictable
and risky. So we move towards efficiency, flexibility, responsiveness, open data,
transparency, and coalitions.
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5. Harnessing our resources wisely is what will enable people all over the globe to
enjoy a higher standard of living – and that is good news for companies.
But there is no economic future for companies if the resources they convert are
depleted.
Sustainability is the best competitive business approach we have to using scarce
resources wisely and effectively, minimizing waste and making smart investment
decisions for an uncertain future. Sustainability for AECOM is: a) An operating
philosophy, b) A point of view, c) A service we provide our clients, d) Something for
which we advocate.
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6. Jurong Lake, Singapore
Alternative energy strategies get much attention but the reality is that we are still
dependent on oil & gas and will be for many years to come.
Smartest energy strategies have major focus on reduction.
Many good examples of energy reduction/low energy/zero energy projects but our
best opportunities lie at the City/Regional level.
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7. The big bubble is all the water in the world – ice, liquid, vapor, including what is in all
organic material. The small bubble (which can’t see) is all the fresh water is river,
lakes, and aquifers. USGS
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8. The elephant in the room is water. We use huge amounts of energy to move water
around and treat it. Similarly our transportation systems are massive consumers of
energy. There is A lot of focus on reducing building energy use – some good
examples and strategies – but it is not addressing whole problem.
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9. As this diagram illustrates, the interconnectivity of these two increasingly scarce
resources is tantamount to our lives.
- Nearly 4% of U.S. power generation is used for water supply and treatment
- 75% of the cost of municipal water processing and distribution is electricity
- By 2050, EPRI estimates that energy needs to supply water for irrigation and
industrial consumption will triple over 2000 levels
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11. Companies exist because they turn resources in products and services that people
want and desire.
As the middle class grows from 2 billion today to 5 billion by 2030 (mostly in the
developing world) – demand for such products will continue to escalate
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12. … led by natural gas and low carbon options for clean energy. Not fast enough,
especially to meet GHG reduction targets.
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14. Top 15 investment flows by country…. A striking new report by Pew and BNEF finds
that China is a net importer of clean technology from America
report titled “Advantage America” released on March 6th. The two countries traded
about $6.5 billion in solar, wind and smart-grid technology and services in 2011—
and America sold $1.63 billion more of such kit to China than it imported from there.
One important explanation for this is that while China has strengths in large-scale
assembly and mass manufacturing, it lacks the innovation to come up with high-
value inputs.
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15. Sectors with solar dominance – note that “energy efficiency” is missing but pervades
all sectors and industries.
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16. AECOM has a very long history supporting development of infrastructure projects
that include power generation and transmission. During the last two decades,
substantial changes have taken place in the economic model for power generation
and distribution, as well as the scientific and political context for power generation
and use. AECOM has played a substantial role assisting clients, particularly in
California. Picture above: NASA Ames Sustainability Base.
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17. Photo of Ventura, Calif. (Home of Patagonia Sports.)
AECOM has developed city-wide carbon reduction assessment tool. Using it for City
of Ventura. It uses GIS to spatially track energy use by building typology and age,
then games multiple packages of measures to identify which combination of
typology and measures achieves optimal results. Not only assess building types but
assesses transportation and waste systems also. Allows combinations of various
systems and intensities of intervention to be tested for lowest cost pathway to total
citywide carbon and reduction targets.
Home monitoring. Pacific Gas & Electric (that serves most of Northern CA) is
conducting a pilot program of in-home monitoring to reduce energy consumption.
Similar pilot programs have demonstrated an average 4% energy savings with the
most successful programs generating 20% savings. The most successful programs
make energy consumption data highly visible and accessible (comparisons to other
homes in the neighborhood, current price, current consumption, red zones to
indicate usage exceeding previous month’s consumption).
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18. An early commitment to energy efficiency and carbon management brings
significant competitive advantage. In the Middle East, AECOM is investing in, and
working to become, a leader in providing integrated planning and energy solutions
for a new sustainable future. Together with our global colleagues, we are focused on
helping our clients to reduce energy consumption, develop renewable sources,
improve grid reliability and cut emissions from fuels already in use.
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19. We develop comprehensive energy-efficiency strategies to deliver sustainable
solutions. Dedicated to reducing greenhouse gases, managing carbon emissions,
and maintaining energy security and independence, we have generated more than
$150 million in annual savings for clients in government, higher education,
healthcare, corrections and water/wastewater facilities.
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With a global team drawn from to San Francisco to Halifax, AECOM led
environmental impact studies and monitoring for the first wave energy conversion
project in California (and only the second in the U.S.). For its Humboldt Wave
Connect Project, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) will pilot the energy
production, performance of up to five innovative technologies for marine wave
energy development in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Eureka, California, USA.
The test program will run for about 10 years, after which PG&E hopes to move into
development and operation of a full array of wave energy converters.
The World Energy Council estimates that wave energy has the potential to be the
largest renewable energy source in the world, estimated at 2 terrawatts (2 million
megawatts) – about double the current world electricity production. Achievement of
that goal is far into the future. The Wave Connect project is one of the first in the
world to be put into the ocean.
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20. Transformation in mobility….
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21. Door to door connectivity,
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23. We may love our cars, but we certainly don't spend much time with them.
The CityCar or MIT CityCar is an urban all-electric concept car designed at MIT
Media Lab. The project was conceived by the late William J. Mitchell and his Smart
Cities Research Group. It is now led by Kent Larson, Director of the Changing
Places Research Group at the Media Lab. The project came into conception in 2003
under the support of General Motors. The CityCar weighs less than 1,000 pounds,
is 60% the size of a Smart Car, and its lithium-ion battery pack is expected to deliver
the equivalent of 150 to 200 mpg-us with no tailpipe emissions. Time Magazine
selected the CityCar as one of the "Best Inventions of 2007.
Hiriko Driving Mobility, a Spanish consortium, developed a commercial version
based on the CityCar concept and began manufacturing of test pre-production cars
in 2012. The production car, called Hiriko, is scheduled to begin a trail late July 2012
as part of a carsharing program.
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24. Once buried and left for dead, the electric vehicle (EV) has been gaining ground at a
slow, yet steady pace in the automotive market. With a growing middle class
globally, and climate change concerns is helping to revitalize EVs in recent years.
Now Ford’s new Chief Operating officer suggests EVs could make up one-quarter of
their sales by the end of this decade.
EV’s lithium batteries (and then there is the hydrogen fuel) prices becoming rapidly
more efficient and costs dropping.
NYC ambitious goal of 10,000 electric charging stations --- parking areas in public
garages and airports?
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26. Parking Industry is changing. Patrons demographics using parking are changing: 1)
aging; 2) millennial; 3) drivers license later and don’t own car; 4) urban living and
car-sharing; 5) cost of ownership and vehicle maintenance; 6) environmental ethic.
The US Green Parking Council is recognized as an important driver for sustainable solutions in the mobility space.
Innovative and modern parking facilities will play a major role in future mobility solutions.
City central and urban parking- and mobility-hubs are key for individual and future based mobility solutions.
Iconic changes are initiated by leading organizations.
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Parking garage – and the lot – at the center of trends and opportunities; we see
parking as an enabler of that process and parking facilities as a key tool in the
process of sustainable mobility. Cars are parked 94% of the time --- how can we
capitalize on this opportunity?
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28. Eco-District is a comprehensive, place-based strategy to accelerate low-carbon and
sustainable development activities at the neighborhood scale by integrating water,
energy, buildings, and mobility initiatives with community programs, utility providers,
businesses, community leaders, and individual action.
Location efficiency in TOD patterns especially when coupled with green design and
right-sized parking requirements. Shown is Bayfront mega-TOD on Honeywell
brownfield property in Jersey City, NJ at Rte 440 – plan involves the flyover
extension of NJT Hudson Bergent LRT from West Side Station.
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29. Higher gas prices will continue and make clean energy ever more competitive.
People do not like to waste money. Greater transparency of use and cost can be big
driver of change. Increasing awareness of price of oil (gas prices), increasing
awareness of water issues (climate change), increasing interest in low energy
homes (private builders are developing low carbon/zero carbon home designs for
post-recession market).
Prime driver is cost/benefit. Sustainable solutions are effective when they can
demonstrate significant economic/human comfort benefits over the norm.
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30. All over the map…
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31. Policy and Adoption
Business - It is in business’ interests to become much more resource efficient –
there are big cost-savings to be made, it creates positive brand impression and
mitigates the risk of future resource shortages
Government – creates the platform and constituency for policy levers to drive
incentives and market responses
Government +businesses can help government see that policy must work in a much
more integrated way
NGOs – have a role to play not just in challenging but in collaborating with business
and government to get solutions working on the ground
Citizens – we must understand and engage in our own consumption decisions- it
can save money, improve our health and happiness and secure a happier future
As EU examples have shown, Cities & Regions have taken the initiative to enact
regional energy sector reform without waiting for directives from the European
Commission. Frustrated by perceived inaction at the EU policy level, the Assembly
of European Regions organized the “European Regions Energy Day” to share best
practice examples, cooperate on projects and organize peer reviews and field visits.
Projects include passive housing in Sweden and reducing GHG in Spanish Ports.
The EU Commissioner is now soliciting AER input on energy policy for the EU.
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32. It’s been a bumpy ride. Drop in investment after 2011 “growing pains” and the
industry back in “robust health” soon.
Solar and wind technology will continue getting cheaper and cheaper, while costs
for coal and natural gas inevitably rise. As the price of electricity goes negative on
sunny and windy days in more countries, this rapid transformation is beginning to
happen everywhere
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33. The need is great for domestic energy production that is reliable, safe and
affordable. The United States needs innovative solutions that help us use energy
more wisely.
There is a clear role for government to play at this critical stage of the industry’s
development – even while recognizing new budgetary realities.
First, government should adopt performance standards –covering fuel economy,
electricity reliability and building efficiency, for example – rather than focusing on
subsidies and direct investments. Performance standards spur demand and
encourage flexibility in the development of technological solutions.
Corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) standards demonstrate how government
mandates can drive technological improvements in a free-market structure.
Second, we need smarter subsidy programs and tax policies that encourage private
investment to bring clean technologies to market.
Production tax credits (PTCs) and investment tax credits (ITCs) have been
instrumental in the solar and wind energy industries in encouraging capital to come
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34. in off the sidelines and fund new projects. While these credits have been instrumental
in the adoption of these technologies.
To address this, ITCs, PTCs and other subsidy programs should be phased out as
the technologies they support reach certain milestones tied to price, performance
or some other competitive metric. Structuring subsidies in this way should eventually
lead to a level playing field as clean technologies mature to the point where they can
compete on their own.
The tax code should also be fixed to remove obstacles preventing renewable energy
projects from benefiting from financial structures that have worked for other
industries, such as master limited partnerships in the oil and gas sector, and real
estate investment trusts in property development.
Third, government agencies should help build the market by installing clean
technologies in their facilities. The federal government owns or leases more than
500,000 buildings and spends more than $7 billion a year on energy. State and local
governments account for an additional $11 billion a year on building-related energy
bills. That is before expenses tied to government vehicle fleets are factored in.
Government organizations across the nation already play a key role in the growth of
clean energy as early adopters — driving demand through their purchasing decisions
and helping manufacturers achieve the cost efficiencies that come from greater scale.
These initial steps can generate the successes needed to support new policy
measures.
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35. What will the future show?
AECOM urban farm
Aquaponics etc.
Chicago Pier
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