Meeting Minutes 20141008

Meeting Minutes 20141008
Town of Underhill
Energy Committee
08 October 2014

DRAFT MINUTES

CALL TO ORDER
Jerry Adams, Pete Bennett, Peter Duval, Bob Murphy, Steve Webster, and Chris Miller in attendance, the regular meeting was called to order at 6:38pm in the Town Hall Kitchen, with Chris in the chair and Peter D. recording minutes as secretary.

Agenda
******
Steve W. asked to add Solar Community to the agenda. Peter D. asked to add Town Garage to the agenda.

6:42 
Steve Haenel, Underhill resident, arrived and set off a round of introductions.

Renewable Energy Vendor Presentation
************************************
Steve W. presented the tentative format for the event: 5 minute presentations followed by general questions and then time to visit vendors individually. Steve wrote an article for the Mountain Gazette and sent a draft to Chris, deadline for publication is tomorrow. Confirmed vendors include Suncommon, Real Goods and Solar Specialists. Many others have been invited.

6:46 
Tom Moore arrived.

Steve reserved the town hall for 28 October, 7pm-9pm. Chris volunteered to bring cider and cups. Pete B. asked about the contacted vendors. Steve read a list of solar thermal, solar PV and heat pump vendors. Pete B. suggested AllEarth. Tom suggested adding car vendors. Bob suggested Vermont Energy and Maheux. 

Advertising and promotion activities were discussed, including Mountain Gazette, Front Porch Forum, flyers, Clark's electronic billboard. 

A non-vendor informational presentation was discussed. Bob volunteered to give the presentation. Steve H. suggested that people will want to know about applicable law and incentives. Bob offered to bring a projector and screen, and recommended dsireusa.org.

7:05

Town Plan Draft Energy Chapter
******************************
The committee discussed the 3 October 2014 draft of the chapter as revised by Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission.

Many problems were identified in the charts and data, including: the data exhibited an inexplicable spike; the charts are uninformative, poorly designed and poorly referenced; there is no consideration of propane; wood is a major fuel but its associated CO2 emissions are not quantified; Underhill's CO2 emissions shown as equivalent to the emissions of the entire US in both a table and the main text. Chris felt that information would confuse or mislead people. Tom said that it is not ready. Steve W. observed that we have no confidence in the data Pete B. said that it raises more questions than answers.

7:20

Discussion turned to the main revision of the text, paragraph 8.2. Chris read the paragraph and noted that the reference to compact fluorescents was dated. Steve W. suggested changing references to electricity to energy.

Peter D. commented that all of the text, and much of our past effort, has been considered relative to the past rather looking forward to the goal, and that can lead to a failure to accomplish the goal, by local suboptimization. A gradient descent optimization, following the steepest path downhill, can lead one down the wrong side of a hill and too high an elevation. Tom rephrased it as baby steps don't work, every once in a while a giant step needs to be taken. Peter responded that at least a giant planning horizon is needed so that the entire terrain is understood and a path to the goal identified, which may even be uphill for awhile.

Peter D. said that the plan is completely tractable. The only reason that the town plans have then same chapters is that the planners and planning consultants looked at the statute and followed its pattern and that's why there is this "cookie cutter" language. There is nothing that requires town plans to follow this pattern. We could start from scratch using Underhill ideas and issues.

Jerry said that the current plan is bulky compared to former plans and the planning commission is trying to reduce it, so that deleting the CCRPC additions would be well received.

Chris said that the plan is not educational, is a document that gets buried, and that we need to be expedient to meet the deadline.

Peter D. said that the planning industry generally looks to copy from models. If we did put out a significantly different model, say that included a passivhaus energy standard, it wouldn't affect many houses in Underhill, but it could lead to bigger towns to follow suit.

Tom said that we have to deal with what we have in front of us.

Steve W. suggested that Peter write a new draft for later review in parallel with this draft.

MOTION
Jerry moved, and Tom seconded, to keep paragraph 8.2 (approximately line 25-34) with edits changing "compact fluorescent" to "energy-efficient", "electricity use" to "energy use" and delete all other new text, charts, tables and data. Passed unanimously.

7:35
Post Office
***********
Bob reported that the ceiling has been completely insulated, with the mini-split to be installed soon. Bob, Tom and Jerry removed a lot of rock wool and debris by hand. Jerry moved the plumbing vent so that it now exits the roof. Tom took care of patching the floor and roof where the big vent pipe was removed. 

The total bill from Building Energy was $7265, less the Efficiency Vermont incentive of about $1600, left a net project cost of $5708. The heat pump will be $3000. The garage high bay lights will cost $2215 with a $750 Efficiency Vermont incentive. All will fit within the budget of the VHEC grant.

The blower door test was a disappointing 1318 CFM50, compared to 1730 CFM50 before the project began -- about 25% reduction. Bob would like to get to a 35% reduction to get an additional $250 incentive from Efficiency Vermont. A smoke pencil test revealed major air flow at the windows, wainscoting, front door weatherstrip, Bilco door and furnace. Bob estimates that the air flow could be reduced another 400 CFM. He said that Mark Diego recommended sealing the basement door with a new frame and framed foam plug with Q-Lon gasket. Discussion of the ductwork versus the door ensued. Bob feels that an hour with some caulk guns would help with other leaks.

Discussion of whether to hire out the job of making the new basement door. Bob will ask Building Energy for a quote on the project, and order the high bay lights for the garage. 

MOTION
Pete B. moved and Steve W. seconded to recognize the very good work done by Jerry, Bob and Tom on the Post Office project. Passed unanimously.

Peter D. asked if, when it fails, the furnace would be replaced with another furnace, or something else and whether removing the furnace now, then air sealing, would help avoid the problem of localized suboptimization.  Bob said that there is no likelihood that a new furnace would be installed. 

Chris asked about the control for the two heating systems. Bob said the project is an experiment. Jerry said that he has used identical thermostats, located side-by-side, with significant offset between the controls. Peter D. suggested using some real-time data loggers to monitor the building. Bob said that he hoping to get some help on this from VEIC.

7:55

Member Recruiting
*****************
Chris read an ad for Front Porch Forum. Tom suggested recruiting at the vendor night. The process for recruiting and appointing was discussed and several questions emerged. Chris will discuss this with the selectboard and town administrator.


8:05

Steve suggested putting time limits on the agenda items. Agenda items, Solar Community and Energy Assessments were tabled without objection.

Town Garage
***********
The status of the town garage was briefly discussed and Bob expressed concern about the town's energy-related decisions being made without consultation.

Peter D. asked if, since the garage was still in limbo, perhaps the VHEC grant money could be used on the post office to achieve a much tighter post office.

Bob said that the lights really need to be fixed, and they can be reused if have to be taken down for the roof repair.

MOTION
Steve W. moved, and Pete B. seconded, to send Chris and Bob to a selectboard meeting to discuss the need for consultation. Passed unanimously.

Chris observed that the selectboard's resolve to repair the roof is fading because it is so expensive, and yet at the same time the building is so young, it is too early to replace.

Minutes
*******
MOTION
Bob moved, and Tom seconded, to accept the minutes of 10 September 2014 as submitted. Passed Unanimously.

ADJOURNMENT
***********
On a MOTION by Jerry, seconded by Bob, the meeting was unanimously adjourned at 8:12.

Respectfully Submitted,

Peter Duval, Secretary


Approved ______________________________________ date:__________________


_______________________
Chris Miller, Chair

Fwd: Energy Chapter of the Town Plan

Begin forwarded message:

From: Christopher Miller
Subject: Fw: Energy Chapter of the Town Plan
Date: October 6, 2014 at 1:08:46 PM GMT-4
To: Bob Murphy , Gerard Adams , Tom Moore , Steve Webster , Peter Bennett , Peter Duval
Reply-To: Christopher Miller

All,
Please find the attached revised Energy Chapter.  Sarah is requesting the Energy Committee to review and comment.


Regards,
Chris

----- Forwarded Message -----
From: Sarah McShane
To: Christopher Miller  
Sent: Friday, October 3, 2014 9:17 AM

Subject: Energy Chapter of the Town Plan

Good Morning Chris,

Happy Friday to you.  I hope this finds you well.  The Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission supplied an energy analysis of the town for inclusion in the Energy Chapter of the Town Plan.  Would you mind sharing the attached revised Energy Chapter with the Energy Committee for review and comment?  Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

Once we receive comments from the Energy Committee, the Planning Commission will put the chapter online for public review and comment.

Thanks so much.  Enjoy your weekend.

-Sarah

High Performance Manufactured Home

Subject: High Performance Manufactured Home

Energy Committee,

There is a high performance manufactured home in the parking lot of the Innovation Center ("GE Building")128 Lakeside Avenue, Burlington. It is a manufactured home, designed to be placed on a foundation, but it is the size and shape of a mobile home.

It is less expensive to own than a mobile home, and with financing, it produces cash savings from the start.

Li Ling Young (lyoung@veic.org) gave me a tour last week. I think that it is leaving soon, so hurry down to visit the building. Check out the heat pump ERV.

-Peter

Meeting Minutes 20140910

Meeting Minutes 20140910
Town of Underhill
Energy Committee
10 September 2014

DRAFT MINUTES

CALL TO ORDER
Jerry Adams, Peter Duval, Chris Miller, Tom Moore, and Steve Webster in attendance, the regular meeting was called to order at 6:43pm in the Town Hall Kitchen, with Chris in the chair and Peter D. recording minutes as secretary. Bob Murphy joined the meeting at 6:58.

Agenda
******
The posted agenda was not modified.

Harvest Market
**************
Tom reported that the tent, tables and chairs are ready.
Chris signed up in the Google Doc for set-up for all three days. Jericho Energy Task Force is not joining in the booth.

Jerry is also helping with set-up and Saturday morning.
Bob arrived (6:58).
Steve is going to produce a poster about the Solar Resolution and arrange for the energy calculator form that acts as the entry to the LED raffle that Bob is organizing.
Peter suggested using the EPA individual greenhouse gas calculator and is working on a bookmark with suggested reading. He asked for reading recommendations.
Tom learned that NESEA is not organizing a home tour this year (http://www.ases.org/solar-tour/).
Bob will have Button Up Day information. Tom suggested offering the Button Up DVD, which Peter suggested could also be entered into the collection at DRML.
Jerry will bring a wattmeter to the booth.
Peter showed some books that will be listed on the bookmark.

7:27

Open Meeting Law
****************
Chris reported on the response to his email message to Brian Bigelow and VLCT about how we could use the correspondence blog. Information sharing and administrative activities are fine, but discussing any matter or document drafting are not. Peter suggested using the blog to post subcommittee reports, so that members can prepare for meetings and a full quorum review can occur in one meeting cycle.

7:37

Post Office Project
*******************
Tom reported that the Energy Committee's post office project has been planned and will be undertaken soon. It was agreed that the project would start 16 September at 8:30, and if additional time is needed the work would continue on the 26th.

Bob reported that Roland Maheux will install the cold-climate heat pump 10 October at 7:30.

7:45

Renewable Energy Vendor Presentation
************************************
It was agreed that the event, "Energy Options Today," will be held Tuesday, 28 October, 7:00-9:00, most likely in the town hall. There was discussion about impact of significant heat pump market penetration on the winter peak electrical demand. Steve recommended a time budget of 5 minutes per vendor.

Member Recruiting
*****************
Chris encouraged everyone to search for a new member.

8:02

Minutes
*******
MOTION
Bob moved, and Tom seconded, to accept the minutes of 13 August 2014 as presented. Passed unanimously.

Adjournment
***********
MOTION
Bob moved, and Tom seconded, to adjourn meeting at 8:05. Passed unanimously.

Respectfully Submitted,

Peter Duval, Secretary


Approved ______________________________________ date:__________________


_______________________
Chris Miller, Chair

Meeting Minutes 20140813

Meeting Minutes 20140813
Town of Underhill
Energy Committee
13 August 2014

DRAFT MINUTES

CALL TO ORDER
Jerry Adams, Pete Bennett, Peter Duval, Bob Murphy, Steve Webster, Tom Moore, Chris Miller in attendance, the regular meeting was called to order at 6:49pm in the Town Hall Kitchen, with Chris in the chair and Peter D. recording minutes as secretary.

Agenda
******
Steve asked to add Solar Inventory to the agenda.

Harvest Market
**************
Chris described work already accomplished on the Harvest Market booth. The site is the same as in prior years. Whether we will be able to get power to the booth is an open question.

Bob read through some online minutes of the Jericho Energy Task Force and determined that they will not be able to participate in the booth this year.

Discussion ensued about possible activities at the booth and each committee member identified specific contributions and ideas:
Bike Generator with Lights
Nissan Leaf
Poster of Past Accomplishments by Year
Solar Inventory
Tower of Power
Tarm Wood Pellet Boiler Poster
GMP Heat Pump Display
Energy Co-op Heat Pump Demonstration

Heat pump discussion included notes that the current rebate is $1000, available only to all-electric heat customers, the future rebates are yet to be determined, and the high interest in cold-climate air-air heat pumps may lead to an "up-stream" (rebates go directly to supplier/wholesaler) reservation system.

Peter asked about providing information about the impact of heat pumps on summer time peak demand. Steve asked about promoting conservation first, and whether we have conservation-oriented literature.

Discussion about estimating household energy consumption with a questionnaire and rewarding participants with a lamp or lamp raffle.

Action items were assigned to each committee member:
Bob:
* Same material as last year
* GMP heat pump literature
* LED lamp raffle
Tom:
* Tents, chairs, tables
Jerry:
* Power cord
* Tarm brochures
Steve:
* Contact VEEP to see what they can offer for free
* Household energy consumption model
Chris:
* Contact JETF
* Contact Chuck about last year's posters
* Follow-up with Harvest Market about power
Pete B.:
* Heat pump literature
* Demonstration heat pump
Peter D.:
* Online schedule sign-up
* Big picture: Japan v. Vermont consumption? Jevons Paradox? Bookmark? Post office report? Energy open house tour?

7:34

Open Meeting Law
****************
Chris identified two issues that affect the committee, agenda notice, and meeting minutes. In both cases, the documents need to be publicly posted on the web, agendas at least 48 hours before a meeting, and draft minutes within 5 days after a meeting.

Pete B. identified a third issue, whether discussion can occur via email outside of the meeting. Peter D. said that the blog can capture all correspondence and provides public access to the documents that the committee receives. Chris said that the issue of whether, or how much discussion can occur remains unresolved, and asked Peter D. to discuss the issue with Brian Bigelow.

7:51

VHEC Grant Presentation
***********************
Chris said that the Selectboard requested substitute projects for the town garage light project.

There is preliminary work that we need to do before the post office project can proceed, build a new bulkhead door, and remove the big vent pipe, repair the floor, remove insulation, repair the roof, and extend the plumbing vent. Jerry suggested running the vent horizontally out the gable. Tom, Bob and Jerry plan to assess the project on Saturday, and undertake the work, Friday, 29 August.

Bob noted that the town hall heat pump will be elevated on a new foundation on August 21st, and suggested that a roof be constructed over the unit.

More discussion ensued on the town garage roof project and lighting project.

8:08

Renewable Energy Vendor Presentation
************************************
Bob said that SunCommon has contacted him again about making a presentation. Discussion about maintaining vendor neutrality, lead to setting a loose date of October for the program. Chris said that we will work on the program at the next meeting.

Solar Inventory
***************
Bob reviewed some details of the Solar Resolution, which set a goal of 50 photovoltaic or thermal systems, starting from 16 previously installed systems, for 34 new systems. Efficiency Vermont paid incentives on 31 projects from 01 July 2012 to 26 November 2013. SunCommon claims 29 systems in Underhill.

Steve will work on getting testimonials and photos of solar projects in Underhill.

8:22

Bob said that Vermont Energy and Climate Action Network (VECAN) and Central Vermont Community Action Council (CVCAC), which has changed its name to Capstone Community Action, are sponsoring a Button-Up Day, 1 November.

Pete B. asked that we discuss two agenda items at the next meeting, member recruiting and changing the meeting day to Monday or Tuesday.

Minutes
*******
MOTION
Pete B. moved, and Tom seconded, to accept the minutes of 09 July 2014 as presented. Passed Unanimously.

Adjournment
***********
Without objection, the meeting was adjourned at 8:30.

Respectfully Submitted,

Peter Duval, Secretary


Approved ______________________________________ date:__________________


_______________________
Chris Miller, Chair

Blog Authoring and Subscribing

Hello Energy Committee,

I have had Blogger send fresh Blog Author invitations to those of you
who are not already authors. There are two blogs:
* underhillenergycommittee.blogspot.com, which is for the public
initiatives of the Energy Committee, things that would be of interest to
most people, most of the time
* ueccorrespondence.blogspot.com, which is for everything else,
including minutes and email exchanges

There are two things to do:
1) If you have received the invitations from Blogger -- there may be 1
or 2 (you'll have to respond to both) -- please follow the instructions
in the invitation.
2) View each of the blogs in your web browser, and on the right pane of
the page, "Subscribe by email" to each of the blogs.

Now you'll automatically receive posts for blog as email, and be able to
send messages/posts to everyone on the committee.
Using these blogs for all of our communication will keep us well in
compliance with the spirit of the Open Meeting Law.
Remember, this communication is all instantaneous and public.

-Peter

Meeting Minutes 20140709

Meeting Minutes 20140709
Town of Underhill
Energy Committee
09 July 2014

DRAFT MINUTES

CALL TO ORDER
Jerry Adams, Peter Duval, Pete Bennett, Chuck Weger and Chris Miller in
attendance, the regular meeting was called to order at 6:45pm in the
Town Hall Kitchen, with Chris in the chair and Peter D. recording
minutes as secretary.

Agenda
******
With Bob Murphy absent, some items on which he would report were deleted
from the agenda: VHEC grant proposal, Vermont Energy Challenge, Heat
Pump Vendor Presentation. Open Meeting Law Changes was also deferred to
a later time.

Town Plan
*********

Jerry, Pete B., Peter D. and Chris attended the 16 June Planning
Commission meeting.

Chris said that the Planning Commission accepted the changes of the June
will forward the Energy Chapter to the Regional Planning Commission for
comments.

Pete B. felt that the Planning Commission was not ready to accept the
Energy Committee's view that the Regional Planning Commission
suggestions did not make a lot of sense, and that there is more
negotiation ahead.

Chris agreed that the process is not finished, and that his
understanding is that the RPC comments will come back to the Energy
Committee. So for now, "the ball is in their court."

Peter D. noted that we had approved two drafts. The first draft, which
included the high performance energy code, was approved by 6 members,
and the second, which did not include the energy code, was approved by 4
members. He felt that it did not appear that the Planning Commission had
read the first draft.

He expressed concern that this was the result of informal communication
between the boards. He mentioned Jerry Adams, Trevor Squirrel and Cliff
Peterson as having multiple positions in town. It is a powerful
position, being a gate keeper of communication between the boards.

Peter D. said that we should bring forward the idea of a high
performance energy again because in the current plan the Energy
Committee is directed to provide regulation and fee recommendations to
the Planning Commission. This is reflected in regulation at other levels
of government and cited California's 2020 net-zero code. He said that he
preferred the Passive House standard because it is a performance
standard, cost-effective, necessary for meeting other energy standards
(net-zero, energy plus) has an international industry behind it, and is
automatically enforced.

MOTION
Jerry moved, and Pete B. seconded, to discontinue talking about the town
plan.

Pete B. said that we should have a little more discussion. He felt that
it would be a "legal rat's nest" to have a stronger energy code than the
state, and that we had instead decided to ask the town to enforce the
state code and promote better practice.

Chris said that the state code is a substantial change from the status
quo, and he feels that construction in Underhill is cost-sensitive and
contrasted it with high-cost LEED-certified construction.

Pete B. read aloud the strategy from the June draft of the Energy
Chapter, and said that because of legal issues that Planning Commission
is unwilling to go beyond the state energy code.

Peter D. asked what the legal issues are.

Pete B. said that that it was the view of the Planning Commission that
an energy code could not be put in the regulations.

Chuck asked, "why not?"

Pete B. said that it had to do with going beyond the state code.

Chuck asked if that wasn't the point of having local control and local
government.

Pete B. said that people would sue.

Jerry said that houses are built with a first-cost concern. If the code
prevented "double-wides" from being installed, for example, then it
would be exclusionary and elitist.

Pete B. said there might be legal issues, and that is the Planning
Commission's view. The Energy Committee's job is give ways to promote
higher building practices.

Chuck said that enforcement is impractical.

Peter D. said that is why the Passive House standard is a good choice,
because there is an infrastructure of consultants and the only way to
get a certification is to have an independent commissioning of a
building by a passive house consultant. The process is well-established,
which is superior to the one that Efficiency Vermont is trying to create
with its own standard.

Pete B. called the question, which passed 3-2 to end discussion. The
motion to discontinue talking about the town plan passed 3-2. Discussion
continued.

Pete B. said that the Energy Committee can still come up with ways to
promote better building practices and even go to Planning Commission at
some point.

Chuck encouraged education

Chris agreed with the notion of education and also suggested exploring
incentives. He felt it was hard to explain going beyond the state standard.

Chuck said it is immaterial whether the local standard is higher or
lower than the state's, and that showing the lifetime economic good
sense of better building practices is effective.

Peter D. said that it argues against the idea that Passive House is
expensive. A sloppy building commits and condemns future people to great
expense.

Jerry said that most people are not thinking about the long-term costs.

Chris agreed. He said that the state standard is a big deal because it
makes it easy to put a statement about enforcement into the town plan.

Pete B. said that our role is to convince people to go beyond the
standard and use carrots.

Jerry said that he installed a solar system that has a long payback and
is deteriorating. He is disappointed.

Chuck quipped about our having already ended the discussion and then
said that part of the problem is that the economics are wrong because
all costs are not included.

Minutes
*******

Discussion turned to the minutes, with a compliment from Chris.
MOTION
Pete B. moved, and Chuck seconded, to accept the minutes of 14 May 2014
as presented. Passed unanimously.

Member Items
************

Chuck asked how to submit a resignation. Discussion about whether email
or paper notice is needed. Chuck will email Brian.

Chris distributed frequently asked questions about the Open Meeting Law.
Some discussion ensued. Peter D. suggested using the correspondence log
blog to make all electronic communication public automatically. Pete B.
pointed out the number of public notice places called for in the FAQ.
Peter D. expressed concern that minutes might not be preserved in the
town vault.

Jerry brought up the failed bid process for the town garage repair. He
expects that no work will be done this year. Discussion ensued. Jerry
thinks that installing the garage heat recovery system is the next step.
Discussion about alternate uses of the grant funding.

Chuck was presented with an imaginary gold watch and thanked for his
unique contributions to the work of the Energy Committee.


Adjournment
***********

On a MOTION from Pete B. and second by Chuck, the meeting was
unanimously adjourned at 7:35.


Respectfully Submitted,

Peter Duval, Secretary