Q&A with Madelyn Wampler: A User’s Perspective on the Cost-Effectiveness Explorer
At the time of writing, Madelyn Wampler was a Sustainability Analyst for the City of Encinitas, where she led efforts on implementing reach codes. With a broad background in environmental sciences, including climate science, coastal adaptation, and coastal policy, Madelyn has collaborated with local, state, national, and international partners to advance environmental and community initiatives. Her previous roles include research grant administration for California Sea Grant, environmental conservation for the Port of San Diego, and stormwater compliance monitoring for the City of Oceanside. During her time in Encinitas, she focused on developing policies that align with the city’s Climate Action Plan, including the adoption of a high-performance reach code.
Q: Tell us a little about how you came to use the Cost-Effectiveness Explorer, Madelyn!
A: When I was hired as a Sustainability Analyst by the City of Encinitas, one of my first assignments was to assist in developing a new reach code to replace the all-electric ordinance, which was suspended in June 2023. Previously, my supervisor used the Explorer and recommended it as a good way to begin familiarizing myself with policy development.
Q: How did you use the tool throughout this effort?
A: I used the Explorer along with outside research to enrich my understanding of terminology. I found the “info” icons to be extremely helpful in providing immediate context to the area I was working in. For example, when we decided we wanted to look more into the high-performance reach code using a single source energy metric, I was able to dig a little deeper into that simply by clicking on the icons or the ‘Learn more’ prompts throughout the process.
Q: How did the Explorer help your process? Did it eliminate the need to study the reports?
A: The Explorer definitely helped streamline the research process, but I still needed to study the reports carefully. I found that using the Explorer to complement the information from the report, to zoom in on specific Climate Zone 7 aspects relevant to the City of Encinitas was very helpful in getting both the deep detail but also to filter out the unnecessary data.
Q: A big part of the process is always working with Council and the public stakeholders. Were there any benefits you found with the Explorer in that respect?
A: Surprisingly, using the Explorer was very beneficial in preparing for discussions with City Council and the public. The fact that it is publicly available, and that anyone can see exactly what a staff person like myself can see, really helps support the transparency of the entire process. Sometimes, I would capture a screenshot to share, and while I often had to provide more detailed explanations of what the information meant in a more immediate way, the audience could still recreate the exact image and be confident that the information was easily available to them. For instance, I could point to the electricity or gas savings and translate the figure into a less technical, more relatable measure, like number of cars removed from the road or the amount of hours the savings could power homes.
Q: Is there anything you’d like to share with our readers about the Explorer?
A: One of the most valuable aspects I found was the multi-learning modes; there were opportunities to learn through visualizations as well as descriptions. I liked the fact that I could get help through the chat function if needed.
Q: What were the results of your efforts with developing a reach code?
A: The City adopted a high-performance reach code in June 2024, which was approved by the California Energy Commission on September 11, 2024. We're now starting our outreach efforts to make sure all relevant stakeholders are informed about the upcoming changes. We're proud to be the first city in San Diego County to implement this type of code, setting a new standard for sustainability in our region.
For more information on the City of Encinitas reach code, visit their Energy Efficiency and Green Building webpage.
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