Vernon Woods (right), ITD Application Analyst, demonstrates mosquito complaint mapping using ArcGIS Server at last year’s GIS Fair.

Celebrate 100 years of mapping Arizona and learn new mapping techniques at the 15th Annual Pima County GIS Fair on Friday, Nov. 2, at the City/County Public Works Building, basement Conference Room C, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The County’s Geographic Information Systems (GIS) group welcomes the general public and local businesses to hear presentations and try out the latest in GIS tools. The event is free.

In celebration of the Arizona Centennial, this year’s theme is “GIS Frontiers – Past Present and Future,” and cake will be provided to celebrate Arizona’s 100 years. The Fair will be decorated with GIS pictures, posters, and memorabilia that represent the history of GIS.

If a picture is worth a thousand words, then bringing photos into mapping is an invaluable tool for fieldwork. The “GPS and GIS Cameras” presentation will illustrate the simple integration process.

In addition to presentations, participants can visit a dozen exhibitors. A grand prize drawing, with a prize provided by CADsoft Consulting, will take place at the end of the GIS Fair. In addition, downtown businesses will provide gifts to be distributed throughout the day.

If you don’t know much about Geographic Information Systems, you can see a brief overview of this service at What is GIS. One of the most popular applications of Pima County’s GIS is the interactive MapGuide-Maps.

It’s one thing to adopt strong energy codes for buildings to improve energy efficiency. Lots of states and counties have done that, including Pima County.

It’s another thing to educate builders on the advances in energy efficiency in the codes and ensure that homeowners get the lower utility bills energy efficiency provides. Pima County has done that, too, and its efforts were recognized this week at the International Code Council’s annual conference in Portland, Ore.

Two organizations that promote energy efficiency – Institute for Market Transformation and Global Buildings Performance Network – honored Pima County with the inaugural Excellence in Energy Code Compliance Award in the large jurisdiction category for its “beyond code” programs that familiarize builders with the latest advances in energy-efficient building techniques.

“Simply enforcing the energy codes which have already been adopted will lead to higher quality construction, saving homeowners and business millions of dollars in energy costs each year,” said Jayson Antonoff, U.S. director of Global Buildings Performance Network. “This award is highlighting the great work by leading jurisdictions who recognize this and have committed to providing this benefit to their communities.”

Pima County adopted the 2000 International Energy Conservation Code in 2001 to save money for residents and reduce peak utility loads by improving building energy efficiency. In August of this year, the Pima County Board of Supervisors adopted the 2012 IECC, which becomes effective in 2013.

Pima County’s Development Services Department has worked with local utilities, builders and contractors to establish local standards, training and inspections for two critical energy code compliance issues: building insulation and “right-sized” heating, ventilation and air conditioning equipment.

The County’s “beyond code” efforts recognized by the award are its Regional Residential Green Building Program, its status as a LEED for Homes provider and its Net-Zero Energy Building Standard.

• Launched in 2008, the free and voluntary Regional Residential Green Building Program provides for the certification of new and remodeled homes based on factors that include water, energy and resource efficiency and indoor environmental quality.
• Also in 2008 Pima County became the only government in the nation to be a LEED for Homes provider of services and certifications. (LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.) To date, Pima County has registered 723 homes in the LEED for Homes program, including two multi-family projects. It has certified 83 LEED Homes: 66 platinum, 14 gold and three silver.

As part of its Green Building and LEED for Homes programs, the County provides training in advanced energy efficiency building techniques for homeowners and building professionals. It conducted nine training sessions for more than 240 people in 2011.

• Pima County and the City of Tucson partnered in 2012 to become the first governmental jurisdictions in the country to develop a Net-Zero Energy Building Standard. The standard provides web-based tools to facilitate the design of homes, apartments, offices and retail buildings that make as much energy as they use.  In Pima County, net-zero homes and apartments are cash flow positive from day one. Lower energy bills more than pay for any increase in the cost of the home (mortgage payments) attributable to the energy-efficient design features. Net-zero homes can save owners or residents $38 to $83 every month.

“Pima County is a great example in the southwestern region of the U.S. to show building departments how they can improve building code compliance,” said Jim Meyers, director of the buildings program for the Southwest Energy Efficiency Project, which works with consumers, businesses, utilities and governments in a six-state region to increase energy efficiency.

“From contractor training to utility collaboration to net zero energy opportunities, Pima County recognizes the importance of working with builders and trades to construct energy code compliant buildings.”

For more information about Pima County’s Green Building Program, LEED for Homes and the Net-Zero Energy Building Standard, including training opportunities, please call (520) 740-6490 or visit www.dsd.pima.gov/Green.

Creating an aerospace and defense park and ensuring the future strength of Raytheon Missile Systems and Davis-Monthan Air Force Base are the centerpieces of an economic blueprint released this week to foster robust job growth inPimaCounty.

The Economic Development Action Plan is designed to spur job creation by capitalizing on the region’s existing strengths in defense and biosciences.

The Pima County Board of Supervisors on Nov. 13 will consider the plan, which also asks voters to invest $197 million in improvements designed to make this region more competitive.

“Communities across the country all want the same thing: high wage, stable jobs for their residents,” said Pima County Administrator Chuck Huckelberry. “The challenge is how to get there, especially since it is not the role of government to directly create jobs, but to lay the foundation for a strong economic climate.

“This is an ambitious agenda that really re-imagines the southern corridor that connects existing and potential employment centers. It lists detailed actions we can take now to ensure we can get this community to work.”

Those actions include realigning the Hughes Access Road to better buffer existing Raytheon facilities from nearby high traffic volume; discounting use fees for Kino Sports Complex; drawing more visitors through soccer and cycling improvements; and increasing support for Tucson Regional Economic Opportunities to promote job attraction.

With agreement from the Pima County Bond Advisory Committee and the Board of Supervisors, voters would be asked to support:

• $90 million in roads to tie the major employment centers together;
• $30 million in economic development infrastructure in regional centers such as Marana andOroValley;
• $37 million to jump-start tourism and invest in our most visited facilities;
• $10 million to expand theUniversityofArizona’s Science andTechnologyPark;
• $30 million to address aircraft noise abatement and purchase buffer lands to keep people from building in the departure air corridor, which would threaten the base.

“Pima County has taken steps over the years to provide a solid foundation for business,” Huckelberry continued. “Our tax levy hasn’t been this low since 2007-08. In that same time, our workforce has been reduced by 12 percent. From training workers to reducing sewer connection fees, we have worked to make sure we provide a positive climate for business. But we have a critical opportunity now to do more.”

The action plan was informed by community comments received after circulating a draft plan in January 2012.

To see the document in its entirety, please visit http://www.pima.gov/administration/documents/pdfs/PC_ED_Action_Plan_2012-10-17.pdf

Pima County recently completed the fourth year of implementation of the Sustainable Action Plan for County Operations adopted by the Board of Supervisors in 2008 and based on the Pima County Sustainability Initiatives adopted by the Board in 2007.

During Fiscal Year 2011-2012, which ended June 30, the County made several advances to increase the sustainability and efficiency of its operations, including:

• Reducing energy expenses by $1.5 million (10 percent) compared to the baseline year of 2008.
• Managing 3.6 megawatts of renewable energy, which represents about 7 percent of the County’s annual energy load and surpassed the 2012 target.
• Increasing the number of alternative fuel vehicles in the Sheriff’s Department’s fleet by 51 percent so they comprise 53 percent of the fleet.
• Increasing employee use of transportation modes other than single-occupant vehicles by 41 percent since 2010.
• Increasing the proportion of office supply dollars spent on ecofriendly products by 276 percent over the baseline year of 2008.
• Increasing the purchase of recycled content paper to 70 percent of all copier/printer paper purchases.
• Increasing the number of County parks served by reclaimed water by 120 percent.

The Sustainable Action Plan for County Operations focuses on alternative fuel vehicles, green building, renewable energy and energy efficiency, green purchasing, land conservation and management, waste reduction, water conservation and carbon footprint reduction; and in 2011-2012 added employee health and wellness goals.

“We are committed to achieving excellence in operational sustainability and efficiency and believe implementation of the Sustainable Action Plan for Pima County Operations, as reflected in the Report Card Year FY 2011-2012, showcases the commitment our employees, colleagues and the community are making to enhance our economy, environment, and the people we serve,” Pima County Administrator C.H. Huckelberry said.

The Sustainable Action Plan for County Operations Year Four Implementation Report Card FY 2011-2012 is available for viewing at www.pima.gov.

The Arizona Planning Association recently presented Pima County Development Services an Honorable Mention Award for the Renewable Energy Incentive District (REID). This award in the “Best Ordinance” category was accepted by Arlan Colton, FAICP, Planning Director, at the state association’s annual conference in Flagstaff last week.

Approved by the Board of Supervisors in March 2012, REID offers incentives to the solar industry to develop on selected sites within unincorporated Pima County. REID gives solar developers the opportunity to build more swiftly and less expensively. “We are pleased that the County has been recognized for this effort, which was several years in the making,” says Colton. “The properties identified for utility-scale photovoltaic solar can proceed to development much quicker, having been pre-cleared for most development requirements.”

There are also financial incentives. The County waives the $15,000 fee charged for accelerated plan processing, and does not require roadway development impact fees.

Pima County is the first jurisdiction in the state to develop a REID ordinance. The model ordinance was a result of a subcontract with the City of Tucson, funded by a federal grant from the Department of Energy.

“Other communities and counties are welcome to use Pima’s REID ordinance as a basis for their own incentive district,” Colton says.

Because of complex requirements for utility-scale solar development, Development Services worked closely with other County departments including Transportation, Geographic Information Systems, Environmental Quality, Regional Flood Control District and Cultural Resources.

The ordinance is limited to photovoltaic systems or comparable technologies that use an equivalent amount of water, to recognize the County’s priority for water conservation. The ordinance also minimizes solar developers’ risk by providing pre-assessed sites and an expedited development process.

Here is a link to the ordinance: www.pima.gov/cob/code/Ord%202012-16.pdf

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Hot weather really makes Pima County residents appreciate – or question – the performance of their air conditioners.  If you think your AC is not keeping you cool and a bigger unit is needed, think again.  It might be just the opposite and you are suffering from oversizing!

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, oversizing home ACs is a common and costly problem.  New homes are being constructed to be more energy efficient, and owners of older homes are adding insulation, weather-stripping and better windows to reduce their energy use – requiring smaller, not larger, ACs.  Getting a bigger unit than you need

“not only makes the new system more expensive to install, but also forces it to operate inefficiently, break down more often, and cost more to operate. … Oversized air conditioners (and heat pumps) do not run long enough to dehumidify the air, which results in the ‘clammy’ feeling.”

A bigger unit may run less to cool your home, but in the same way that stop-and-go city driving uses more gas than highway driving, AC efficiency falls as the cooling cycle gets shorter.  Plus, as with cars, too much on-and-off operation is hard on AC equipment.  The most efficient and comfortable AC is one that runs all afternoon on the hottest days of the year.

Installing or replacing an AC requires a permit (unless it is a small window-type AC).  Determining the right size of the unit requires the use of Manual J, “Residential Load Calculation,” published by the Air Conditioning Contractors of America, which considers such factors as how well your home is insulated, how much heat your windows let into your house and how much the duct work that distributes the air in your house leaks.

But you can estimate the size of the AC unit you may need by timing the cycles of your existing unit in hot weather.  When the outside temperature is 105 or more, time how long your AC runs and then how long it is off before it starts running again.  Divide the total into the minutes on to get the load.  Do this three times and average the result.

Minutes on / Minutes on + Minutes off = Load

For example, if your AC runs for 20 minutes and then is off 10 minutes before it comes on again, your load is 20 / 20 + 10 = 0.67, or 67 percent of system capacity.  Multiply the size of your unit by the percent of system capacity to find out how much cooling you’re really using.  If your existing AC is a 3-ton unit, 3 tons x 0.67 = 2 tons of cooling.  You might be better off with a 2-ton unit.

A trained professional AC contractor should assess all the Manual J factors to determine the size of the AC you need.  But timing your cycle when it’s hot outside will give you a head start.

The Pima County Green Building Program helps homeowners and builders make homes energy-efficient, durable and healthy to live in.  For more information, call (520) 740-6490 or visit www.pimaxpress.com/Green.