Achieving the Climate Action Plan Goals for the City of Long Beach: Transit-Oriented Development, Governance, and Building Electrification

Presented by the AIA Long Beach / South Bay Committee On The Environment (COTE)

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2.0 LU/HSW

Program Description:

City of Long Beach Community Development representatives will discuss ongoing zoning efforts to encourage transit-oriented development, specific plan and zoning updates, and Long Beach Climate Action Plan governance and implementation.

Members of the American Institute of Architects – Long Beach / South Bay Chapter’s Committee On The Environment (COTE) will discuss the advantages of transitioning buildings from gas to electric, including essential steps, available financial incentives, and how architects can align designs with the Long Beach Climate Action Plan.

The architects of the venue, the CSULB Anna W. Ngai Alumni Center, will be on hand to provide a tour of the building and speak to the challenges and successes of the project. Learn more about this award-winning project and JFAK Architects.

Learning Objectives:

• Attendees will learn about the newly created Office of Climate Action and their role in facilitating interdepartmental plan implementation, monitoring, and reporting.
• Attendees will learn about ongoing citywide zoning update efforts, specific plan updates, and anticipated Open Space Element Updates that are reflective of the recently adopted Land Use Plan and Housing Element.
•  Attendees will learn about ongoing efforts to implement the Long Beach Climate Action Plan through development and how planners can better provide opportunities to stakeholders for collaboration and sustainable design.
• Attendees will learn the benefits of converting buildings from gas to electric and the steps required.
• Attendees will learn about the financial incentives available to individuals for converting from gas to electric.
• Attendees will learn how an architect can modify their designs to better align with the goals of the Long Beach CAP.

Panelists:

Originally from Ensenada, Mexico, Alejandro Sanchez-Lopez currently works as the Advance Planning Officer for the Long Beach Department of Community Development, and is an alumni of the City’s Management Assistant fellowship program. Alejandro was the lead planner on Long Beach’s recently-certified Housing Element, and is spearheading the city’s first comprehensive rezoning in over 30 years. He was previously a Data Analyst at the USC Program for Environmental and Regional Equity and the Center for the Study of Immigrant Integration (PERE/CSII) at USC. While at PERE/CSII, he coauthored publications on racial justice and demographic change, metropolitan dynamics, and immigration. Prior to joining PERE/CSII, Alejandro worked on housing justice and economic development with various governmental and nonprofit organizations in the LA region. 

Fern Nueno, AICP, LEED AP BD+C, has over 17 years of municipal government experience in urban planning, transportation planning, and economic development.  Fern works as the Climate Manager for the City of Long Beach Office of Climate Action & Sustainability, implementing the Long Beach Climate Action Plan.  Her professional interests include livability, equity, placemaking, and sustainability.   Fern serves as the Director for the American Planning Association Los Angeles Section, and she serves on the USGBC-LA Long Beach Committee and the Long Beach Day Nursery Board of Directors.  Fern is a graduate of the Leadership Long Beach Institute Class of 2019.  She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Geography from the University of California, Santa Barbara and a Master of Business Administration with a Specialization in Entrepreneurship and Family Business Enterprise from Louisiana State University Shreveport. 

Carline Hua began her career in the City of Long Beach as a Management Assistant working on special projects across different departments. She currently is a Program Specialist for the Planning Bureau, Department of Community Development working on both current and advance planning projects that include implementation of the Long Beach Climate Action Plan. Prior to the City of Long Beach, Carline worked as an intern for the City of Dana Point’s Planning Division and City of San Diego’s Stormwater Department. Ms. Hua holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Systems with a concentration on Ecology, Behavior, and Evolution and minor in Law and Society from the University of California, San Diego. She also received a Master of Urban and Regional Planning from the University of California, Irvine.

Committee On The Environment

Keith Hempel, FAIA, LEED AP BD+C is a graduate of the College of Environmental Design at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. Mr. Hempel joined LPA, Inc. in Irvine, CA in 1995 and is currently President of the firm. Notable projects include the Flight Projects Center at the Jet Propulsion Laboratories in La Canada Flintridge, CA, The Watson Land Company Headquarters in Carson, CA and the Starr Atrium for Edwards Lifesciences in Irvine, CA.

Alex Sassoon has over 10 years of experience in consulting engineering covering the renovation and construction of higher education, office, sports, entertainment, food service, laboratory, pharmaceutical, aerospace, municipal, and healthcare facilities. Alex is a co-founder and the leader of education of the P2S Net Zero Team, which emphasizes high-performance building best practices and sustainable design. He also serves as the founding electrical leader of the P2S Decarbonization Working Group. 

Nick Brown is President of Build Smart, an independent energy consultancy specializing in California energy modeling, energy code, and building performance that supports builders and architects in designing energy-efficient buildings.  Nick is a Certified Energy Analyst (CEA) for residential and an Associate Energy Analyst (AEA) for nonresidential construction by the California Association of Building Energy Consultants (CABEC).  He is a Subject Matter Expert on the Energy Code Ace statewide education team and teaches classes for Southern California Edison on Net Zero Design, All-Electric Homes, Heat Pumps, and PV and Battery Systems.  He also taught the class for AIA California that meets the new Architect accreditation requirement for Zero Net Carbon Design education on All-electric ADUs. 

Ken Johnson is the Senior Manager for Mitsubishi Electric’s Performance Construction team. He works with architects, energy consultants, MEP’s and HVAC contractors, as well as builders of tiny, custom, affordable, modular, passive and multi-family homes to improve the efficiency, comfort, and indoor air quality of new homes. Ken previously worked for Mitsubishi Electric’s solar PV division, promoting residential and commercial solar installs. He also spent six years in Japan working for the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO), an agency that funds and oversees energy efficiency and renewable energy R&D.

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