Environmental Sustainability Council

Minutes Environmental Services Council Thursday November 20, 2014 7:30-9:30 Dogwood Room ESC Council Members: Peter Adriance, Raymond Arnaudo, Sarah Bayldon, Andy Crawford, Jackson Jost (student rep), Mary Keenan (student rep), Peter Oppenheimer, William Schellstede, Tim Stevens (chairman), Suzanne Updike Present: Peter Adriance, Raymond Arnaudo, Sarah Bayldon, Andy Crawford, Jackson Jost, Mary Keenan, Peter Oppenheimer, William Schellstede Tim Stevens, Suzanne Updike, Allison Lohrenz (city staff liaison), Dan Sze (city council), Doug Fraser (city staff), Loren Bruce (city staff) Visitors: Bob Lufton, Chris McCloud 1. Call to Order 2. New Business LEED for schools -- Mt Daniel expansion project As it stands now, the school system will not be seeking LEED certification for the upcoming expansion of Mt Daniel Elementary School. The superintendent has indicated that they will “build to LEED silver standards” but not seek actual certification. The estimated additional cost for certification is 85 thousand dollars. A portion of this cost would be for commissioning -- the testing and optimizing of the mechanical systems. The school is located in Fairfax County, so City will not be reviewing the plans, but City Building Official Doug Fraser offered some perspectives on the issue of LEED for schools. He spoke of the new Virginia Building Code which will soon require similar commissioning work (separate from LEED). New code took effect July 2014, but includes 1-year grace period for projects in pipeline. Although the MD school project is likely to fall within the grace period and not be subject to the new standards, ESC agreed that one could view such commissioning work as a basic part of construction and not an extra. Given the long lifespan of a new school building, the expected cost savings of a properly tested and optimized mechanical HVAC system would easily cover the upfront costs of such commissioning work. City Council member Dan Sze told ESC that next Monday (the last council meeting of the year), the schools system will ask the city council to ratify the contract to begin the work of expanding the MD school. Schools are likely to submit the preliminary site plan to Fairfax County in early 2015. Sze indicated that an option to add 85K for LEED certification should not disrupt/slow the contract process. Sze discussed possibilities of going further than LEED silver. Would not require too many more points in LEED system to obtain gold standard. A variable refrigerant system (such as Fairfax County schools are starting to use) would result in greater efficiencies but is very expensive, with a long payback period. Another possibility would be to add solar panels. ESC agreed to support adding $85K to school contract in order to pursue LEED silver. Tim Stevens will speak at Monday’s city council meeting. Sustainability in Falls Church Loren Bruce, one of the city planners, is to write a new chapter on sustainability for the City’s Comprehensive Plan. He envisions three parts-- environmental, economic and social. He asked for any suggestions from ESC. As a start, ESC suggested he look to neighboring jurisdictions for examples. For instance, Arlington has had sustainable energy policies for 15 years. ESC noted the city council discussed LEED for new construction several years ago - resulting resolution agreed to require LEED certification for large new municipal buildings (not including schools). 3. Old Business Open Space Chapter of Comprehensive Plan ESC discussed comments- written by Peter Oppenheimer- on the City’s draft revision of the Open Space chapter of the Comprehensive Plan. Peter will submit to city staff. Leaf Management Suzanne Updike will prepare a draft memo to City Council to request that city staff (or their contractors) mulch mow leaves on city land. It will also ask that city staff develop educational materials to promote onsite leaf management (including mulch mowing and leaf composting) in residential areas. The memo will discuss benefits of these onsite practices and some concerns with current practices, as well as the need to prepare residents for the likely elimination of the current City leaf composting site when the GM school property is redeveloped. Memo to be reviewed at future ESC meeting. Solarize FC Tim Stevens and city staff will meet Nov 21 with Solarize/LEAP to discuss expanding this program into FC. 4. Informational Items Tim Stevens noted that next ESC chair will be elected at December meeting 5. Next meeting Thursday December 18 in Dogwood room, City Hall Adjournment - 9:30 pm. minutes prepared by Suzanne Updike