The war on waste From Fast Company Magazine May 2009

The war on waste

From Fast Company MagazineMay 2009

Action/Implementation

Audits

Inventory

Prioritize

Measurement

Framework for Municipal Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Energy

Inventory

Needs:

Minimum Data ListEducation TrainingEase of Data CollectionResponsible PartyMethod of Explaining Context

$Volume

CO2?

Inventory

Prioritize

Needs:

Facilitation skillsCost effectivenessStudy Guide

Processes—• identify municipal values• scoring• identify/involve stakeholders • goal setting $

VolumeCO2

ScoringCost benefit

Audits

Inventory

SchoolsFleetsBuildings

Prioritize

Needs:

Standards and proceduresFundsSkills eg. Cost accounting (ROI) energy metrics Processes—• to evaluate building as a system• to certify auditors• to audit fleets and maintenance• to identify limits of audits

$VolumeCO2

ScoringCost benefit


Audits

Inventory


Prioritize

Needs:

Education of publicCertification of vendorsLocal pool of vendors

Way to increase local capacity• bidding• project management

$VolumeCO2

ScoringCost benefit

HabitsEquipment/Technology


Audits

Inventory

$VolumeCO2


HabitsEquipment/Technology

Prioritize

MeasurementNeeds:

Develop metrics Physical PolicyLocal data baseState data base

ImpactGaps

ScoringCost benefit

STAGE NOW DESIRED

Inventory

Inventory Tools: Small Town Carbon Calculator (STOCC) for municipalities, Campus Carbon Calculator TM for schoolsInventory Training: STOCC, Campus Carbon CalculatorTM, EPA Portfolio Manager, ICLEI CACP tool for municipalitiesDocuments and Tools for Inventory: Tools to train and guide LECs and municipal staff in inventory process, including: Spreadsheets, Inventory Guides, Inventory Checklists, Inventory Report Templates, Inventory Presentation Templates, Sample lettersInterns: Training to assist towns/LECs in Inventory process, Supervision for Conducting Inventory Case Studies: examples of towns in inventory process, facilitating peer-to-peer support

Increase the number of communities we can serve.Continued collaboration with other organizations through the LEC Working Group to develop other inventory support tools and trainings.Increase the number of interns available to work on data collection and inventory process.Creating a robust compilation of case studies.Collaboration: Leverage our work in inventories to feed into a master database of community data collection

Prioritize

Trainings: Offer regional trainings on how to prioritize inventory reportGuidance and Technical Assistance: Facilitate committee meetings in order to prioritizeCase Studies: examples of towns prioritizing projectsCollaboration: working with several Regional Planning Commissions to assist towns in prioritizing both building efficiency and planning related opportunities.

Increase the number of communities we serve and the human resources to help analyze the inventory data for prioritization; Clean Air—Cool Planet has already created a robust carbon projection and project management tool for colleges and universities.Collaboration: With organizations such as the NHMA to develop trainings and tools for municipal officials to prioritize energy projects.

Audits

Technical Assistance: Provide assistance on creating municipal energy chapters of a Master Plan in targeted communities. Assist with land use and policy audits in targeted communities.

Trainings/Guidance: On the necessity to conduct energy/land use audits. Case Studies: examples of towns that have conducted audits. List of NH Auditors and contacts

Working with consultants to help prioritize projects above and move a number of “fast-tracked communities” into both decision grade and investment grade audits on their worst performing buildings. These communities will serve as examples and mentors for other communities.Expand assistance on policy and land use audits to an increased number of communities.Working with other agencies/NGOs to develop a list of qualified auditors and a web-based tool to view communities that have used auditors.Web-based system to highlight case studies.

Agency: Clean Air Cool Planet

Contact: Christa Koehler

Next Step: Identify Resources – Non Profit

Measure

Inventory Tools: Can provide measurement through some of the inventory tools Guidance and Technical Assistance: Provide guidance on how to measure success and quantify energy and greenhouse gas emission reductions.

Continued training in both the how-to’s of measuring and assessing, as well as data collection standards and management.Working with Carbon Solutions New England to track municipal energy data as projects are implemented.

Clean Air-Cool Planet, cont.

Action

Trainings: Offer regional trainings on how to implement shovel ready projects – getting from audit to implementationAssistance in directing LECs/municipal staff to funding sources.Guidance and Technical Assistance: Provide towns guidance on contacts and information needed to implement projectsCommunity Toolkit/Case Studies: examples of towns that have completed projects as a how to guideInterns: Provide supervision for students working on projects with towns Statewide Conference: for LECs and municipal staff/committee members in local energy solutions. CACP and the LEC Working Group are addressing all of the above steps in this process in breakout and plenary sessions. This will be an annual event.

Providing community advocates to these “fast tracked” municipalities to begin the process of identifying funding and project implementationHelp municipal officers and LEC through each step in implementation, through partner trainings and workshops (ie the LEC Working Group).Building on CACP’s existing role as a convener of stakeholders, we will continue to engage business leaders, NGOs, science centers and higher education institutions, which are leaders in energy conservation/greenhouse gas reductions to bring best practices to the local level.

Identify Resources

Agency:

S.E.E.D.S. Sustainable Energy Education & Demonstration Services (Example of independent Energy Consultant Skill Sets)

Contact: Margaret Dillon – [email protected]

STAGE NOW DESIRED

InventoryConsulting when necessary. Walk Thorough site visits to identify potential opportunities as well as obstacles or other considerations.

PrioritizeConsulting on analyzing All Sources of Energy Use and Educational Presentations – Public, Board, LEC’s Facility Managers, ect…

Audits

Whole Building Performance Testing and Assessments:BPI Certified Building Analyst and Envelope SpecialistHERS Rater; BAC Certificate in Sustainable Design; 125 Hours Building Science Corporation; LEED APBlower Door Testing and Pressure Diagnostics; Thermography; Combustion Analysis; Heat Load Calculations on existing and retrofit options; Energy Modeling when useful; Building Systems analysis and long term energy and carbon reduction planning. –Individualized Educational Power Point Presentations based on building assessmentsEnvelope Expertise on All Buildings; HVAC on all residential, most NH municipal and light commercial buildings.

Increase knowledge based of electrical systems and sophisticated HVAC systems. Presently partner with mechanical engineers for HVAC systems and very light on electrical as utility companies offer full service. – Pursue CEM?Developing expertise in more sophisticated energy modeling software for retrofitting existing non residential buildings. Residential programs Rem Rate and Treat are not entirely appropriate; results are within 20% accuracy which can more easily be achieved using basic HLC spreadsheets. Energy Modeling is an emerging technology and keeping up to date is not inexpensive.

Identify Resources - Private

Action

Design Consulting on Retrofits; Additions; Remodeling; and New Construction, Energy Modeling for various Envelope Strategies to achieve High Performance; Work in Team with builders, architects and engineers;Site Inspections during implementation

Participate more (continue) in architect and contractor training modules – core building science principles to market based trades- In 25 years managing, building, designing, testing buildings – all but 2 professionals (architects, engineer, builder, tradesperson, manager) have said they know how to design, build, or manage energy efficient buildings. Yet I have tested over 200 buildings built within that time frame and nearly everyone is dismally lacking in energy performance. We need performance based standards and for the built environment to be based in science NOT market assumptions; contractor habits and available product lines.

MeasureSite Inspection; Blower Door Tests; Performance AnalysisOn Going Strategic Planning Consulting based on Revised energy use

SEEDS

STAGE NOW DESIRED

Inventory

In general, development of inventories is a common task associated with master planning and other planning processes, and RPCs have well developed skill and competencies in this area. Municipal energy inventories using Portfolio Manager, ICLEI or Carbon Calculator software usually involves coordinating local volunteers to gather the source information needed (facility information, electric, oil, gas, other fuel billing histories, etc). The RPCs typically have experience coordinating this kind of local fact gathering, and in providing direct hands on assistance to municipal officials and volunteers ‘”in the field.”Some RPCs have played a more involved role in activities specific to municipal energy use than others in recent years due to the availability of funding they have received via CA-CP or a similar source. With the existing inventory software available and perhaps other standards that could be developed via CA-CP or others, this is an area where direct local outreach is needed and where RPCs are a good fit to both the task and the need.

All RPCs (ideally one staff planner specializing in energy planning per RPC) to be trained and competent in the use of Portfolio Manager, ICLEI and Carbon Calculator software, able to understand and standardize the process based on common templates developed by the combined efforts of CA-CP, OEP and NHMA, and provide training and basic inventorying assistance to municipalities (LECs); establish an inventory schedule to ensure that all municipalities seeking assistance get it within a one to two year period; aggregate and consolidate the inventory data at both the regional and state level (enabled by the standardized methods and templates being used).

Prioritize

While all RPCs are not currently engaged in prioritization of energy related programs, the public and group facilitated skills necessary for these activities are part of numerous other planning processes that the RPCs are engaged in and have historic expertise in, including working on local prioritization processes that is typically part of local CIP development, or other local or regional project prioritization we undertake for the NH DOT (10-Year Plan, TE, CMAQ, SRTS, etc.), US EPA, US Dept. of Commerce/EDA, NH HSEM (hazard mitigation project prioritization), USDA Rural Development, and NH DES.

Diversify these already ingrained skills to include energy planning. Assist municipalities in the use of standardized prioritization tools based on audit and other inputs to provide guidance on optimizing to select the most energy and cost effective investments. Also provide this assistance in building and updating municipal capital improvement plans.

Audits

No RPCs are currently engaged in conducting building or facility energy audits per se for municipalities. With respect to conducting technical energy audits of buildings and other facilities, RPCs don’t currently have such capabilities and it probably does not make sense to develop them at a region-specific level. RPC local energy planners could provide assistance in procuring audit assistance or the grants to pay for them.Most RPCs regularly conduct regulatory/policy audits specific for such things as water quality, housing and transportation, or as broad as aligning a Master Plan with land use regulations and policies (e.g., Master Plan Smart Growth audits). With relatively little training, RPCs would have the capability to conduct energy policy, planning and regulatory audits - activities that will be needed to ensure long term alignment of development practices with sound energy policy.

The role of the RPCs regarding audits should be to broaden and provide resources to conduct regulatory/policy audits and to be a resource for municipalities to procure appropriate consultants and assist towns in leveraging funding to conduct other energy related physical audits (e.g., building/facility energy audits).

RegionalPlanning Commissions

Identify Resources-Public

Action

The following represent examples of activities in which RPCs can currently assist municipalities (note: a staff member dedicated to energy planning expertise would enhance this capability):Create Master Plans that incorporate Energy Chapters.Review Master Plans and implementing regulations pertaining to land use, community development, resource protection, sustainability, etc. to determine whether these instruments promote energy conservation or create obstacles for doing so. Consider, as part of this review, incorporation of energy reduction measures as part of an overall municipal strategy.

All RPCs (ideally one staff planner specializing in energy planning per RPC, with enhanced capabilities through advanced training and coordination with OEP, CA-CP and others) to assist municipalities with the following:Create Master Plans that incorporate Energy Chapters.Review Master Plans and implementing regulations pertaining to land use, community development, resource protection, sustainability, etc. to determine whether these instruments promote energy conservation or create obstacles for doing so. Consider, as part of this review, incorporation of energy reduction measures as part of an overall municipal strategy.Assist in formation of municipal LECs.Assist municipalities in applying for funding for implementation of projects/initiatives.

Measure

RPCs - through experience in establishing benchmarks, setting achievable goals, and conducting evaluation analysis - possess the ability to measure change in moving toward energy goals. These skills are applied by RPCs in evaluating a number of initiatives including those related to economic development, environmental, transportation, historic preservation, household hazardous waste, and housing.

Further develop these existing evaluative capabilities in ways that are specific to energy planning. Ideally one staff planner specializing in energy planning per RPC will provide the institutional capacity for this to occur.

Regional Planning Commissions

Action:EE in the Town

Improve Efficiency by ___

Measurement

External$

ExternalT.A.

A process flow



Measurement

InternalTA

Training

Methodology

External$

ExternalT.A.

Private Experts/Vendors

Training(Resources,

Methodology)



Measurement

Internal$

InternalTA

Training

Methodology

External$

ExternalT.A.

Bonds

No InterestBearing

InterestBearing

GrantsLoans

Private Experts/Vendors

Training(Resources,

Methodology)

Training



Measurement

Internal$

InternalTA

Training

Methodology

External$

ExternalT.A.

Bonds

No InterestBearing

InterestBearing

GrantsLoans

FacilitatorPrivate Experts/Vendors

Training(Resources,

Methodology)

Training

Sen Martha Fuller ClarkRep. Jim GarrityDick Ober EESE BoardJack RudermanMeredith HatfieldBill Codner National GridJohn PucMargaret Dillon SEEDSSusan Olsen NHMARoger Stephenson Clean Air-Cool PlanetChrista KohlerJulia DundorfCliff Sinnott Regional Planning CommissionsChristine WalkerEric Steltzer Office of Energy and PlanningMary DownesDari SassanAndy GreyGeorge Hunton NH CDFA Ray Gosney NH Electric CoopCarol Woods Bob Scott DES Air Resources Mike FitzgeraldJoanne MorinKaren Rantamaki NH state energy mgr Ken Walsh DOS Fire MarshalJeff TaylorClay MitchellMike BehrmanGary Miller UnitilGil Geleneau PSNH

Thanks To Contributors