Meeting Minutes 20140514

 Meeting Minutes 20140514
Town of Underhill
Energy Committee
14 May 2014

DRAFT MINUTES

Bob Murphy, Tom Moore, Jerry Adams, Steve Webster, Peter Duval, Chuck Weger and Chris Miller in attendance, the regular meeting called to order at 6:35pm in the Town Hall Kitchen, with Chris in the chair and Peter recording minutes as secretary.


VHEC Grant
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Bob began the discussion with an information update:
1) Efficiency Vermont (EVT) incentives can be combined with the grant.
2) The street light program has been fully subscribed for this year, so no funds are available for street light replacement.
Bob reviewed potential projects, with estimates:

Town garage lighting project would install 14 4-tube T5 fluorescent fixtures. The EVT incentive pays $100 per fixture and $100 per motion sensor. For the fixtures, with a total cost of $4200, less the EVT incentive of $1400, leaves a net charge to the VHEC grant of $2800.

Post office insulation project would fix the DWV stack, remove basement vent, air seal and install new insulation. The project, with a total cost of $5590, less incentives of $1500, leaves a net charge to the VHEC grant of $4090.

Town hall lighting project would replace fluorescent fixtures in the main room. We are waiting on a detailed quote. Incentives are minimal. The current estimate is approximately $1000 net charge to the VHEC grant.

Discussion ensued about the sequencing of repairs at the town garage. The roof replacement should be done before the lighting project is undertaken. There is a 31 December 2014 deadline for lighting verification.

Tom suggested installing a ductless mini-split at the post office. The total cost would be  approximately $5000. Some discussion about the whether the town hall would be a better showcase for the unit, and whether the AC-only mini-split that was just installed at the town hall could be retrofitted, or would have to be replaced.

Peter suggested a dark-sky optimized lighting project for the post office.

Individual projects were voted by priority:

MOTION
1) Jerry moved, Peter seconded to allocate $5590 of the VHEC grant to the post office insulation project. Passed unanimously.
MOTION
2) Tom moved, Jerry seconded to install a mini-split somewhere at the town hall; but if it is not recommended on closer evaluation, then it would be installed at the post office. Passed unanimously.
MOTION
3) Chuck moved, Bob seconded to use the EVT rebate money on dark sky exterior lighting at the post office, and any remaining rebate money on the town hall parking lot. Passed unanimously.
MOTION
4  Tom moved, Steve seconded to renovate the fluorescent fixtures in the main room of the town hall. Passed unanimously.


Town Plan
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Working from a hard copy of Peter Bennett's draft "Chapter 8: Energy," with Steve and Peter suggesting on a number of deletions, and Chris suggesting a couple of insertions the edits which were accepted without objection:

1) At line 22, insert "and renewable energy production" after "measurable energy efficiencies"
2) At lines 25-28, delete "It may also…tree canopy."
3) At lines 30-49, delete "In the Underhill…should be investigated."
4) At line 71, replace "feasible" with "effective"
5) At line 106, delete "about" from "Selectboard to consider about targeted emission"
6) At line 108, revise "achieving those targeted standards by 2014." to "achieving targeted standards."
7) At line 116, delete "alternative" from "development of alternative renewable"
8) At line 129-135, delete "4. The Planning Commission shall…fuel the Town garage."

Discussion of building energy codes (High Performance High, Energy Star, Code Plus), the lack of enforcement of the state code, and the merits of a verifying code standard.

MOTION
Peter moved, Steve seconded to add at line 77:
"Objective:  The town should require a High Performance Home certification as a requirement for a certificate of occupancy for new buildings." Passed, 6-1.

Harvest Market
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Chuck brought to the committee's attention that it is time to plan for Harvest Market, and produced the registration material for a booth. The committee expressed sadness at the imminent loss of Chuck's good company and reliable organizing of the Harvest Market booth and extended best wishes for his retirement from the committee. Bob agreed to organize the Harvest Market Booth.


Bob mentioned that domestic hot water heat pumps will be getting a substantial incentive this year, $550, on an approximately $900 unit.


VHEC Grant Revisited
********************
Tom received a communication from Brian Bigelow expressing confidence that the town garage roof replacement project would be completed in time to pursue the town garage light project.

MOTION
Steve moved, Tom seconded to substitute the town garage lighting for the mini-split project, if Tom was convinced that the lighting project is feasible and the garage project would be completed in time. Passed 6-1.

On a MOTION from Chuck and second by Steve, the meeting was unanimously adjourned.


Respectfully Submitted,

Peter Duval, Secretary