Item 26 - Public Hearing Vista Heritage Charter School (601 North Fairview Street)

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Vista Charter Public Schools District Office and Outdoor Space Project CEQA Exemption 15183 4.6.2 Project Analysis ENERGY CONSUMPTION Construction During construction, the project would consume energy in two general forms: (1) the fuel energy consumed by construction vehicles and equipment; and (2) bound energy in construction materials, such as asphalt, steel, concrete, pipes, and manufactured or processed materials such as lumber and glass. Fossil fuels used for construction vehicles and other energy -consuming equipment would be used during building construction, paving, and architectural coatings. Fuel energy consumed during construction would be temporary and would not represent a significant demand on energy resources. In addition, some incidental energy conservation would occur during construction through compliance with State and RR E-1 requirements that heavy-duty diesel equipment not in use for more than five minutes be turned off. Project construction equipment would also be required to comply with the latest U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and CARB engine emissions standards. These emissions standards require highly efficient combustion systems that maximize fuel efficiency and reduce unnecessary fuel consumption. Due to increasing transportation costs and fuel prices, contractors and owners have a strong financial incentive to avoid wasteful, inefficient, and unnecessary consumption of energy during construction. Substantial reductions in energy inputs for construction materials can be achieved by selecting green building materials composed of recycled materials that require less energy to produce than non -recycled materials.12 Compliance with RR E-2 and the integration of green building materials can help reduce environmental impacts associated with the extraction, transport, processing, fabrication, installation, reuse, recycling, and disposal of these building industry source materials.13 The project -related incremental increase in the use of energy bound in construction materials such as asphalt, steel, concrete, pipes and manufactured or processed materials (e.g., lumber and gas) would not substantially increase demand for energy compared to overall local and regional demand for construction materials. The project proposes to remodel and reoccupy an existing building to use as an office building for Vista Charter Public Schools and is not expected to involve any major construction activities or construction of new structures. As such, the project's fuel consumption from off -road construction equipment use would be nominal and would not significantly increase fuel use in the County. Similarly, the project's fuel consumption from on -road construction vehicle use would be nominal and would not significantly increase fuel use in the County. As such, construction would have a nominal effect on the local and regional energy supplies. It is noted that construction fuel use is temporary and would cease upon completion of construction activities. There are no unusual project characteristics that would necessitate the use of construction equipment that would be less energy efficient than at comparable construction sites in the region or State. Therefore, by complying with RR E-1 and E- 2, construction fuel consumption would not be any more inefficient, wasteful, or unnecessary than other similar development projects of this nature. As such, a less than significant impact would occur in this regard. 12 CalRecycle, Green Building Materials, https://www.calrecycle.ca.gov/greenbuiIding/materials#Material, accessed August 15, 2023. 13 Ibid. Dec i y ouncil 26 — 83 1/16/20'2 e 23