Environmental Sustainability Council

City of Falls Church Environmental Services Council Energy Transition Subcommittee (ETS) meeting Thursday, March 3, 2016 Minutes Present: Jerry Barrett, Tim Stevens, Peter Adriance, Andy Crawford, Nisha Thirumurthy, Chris McCloud City Staff: Kate Walker, Loren Bruce The meeting began with introductions. Minutes of the last meeting were approved. It was agreed that Peter Adriance would take minutes at this meeting, Andy Crawford at the next one. GHG Inventory & Utility Data – Dominion’s data is too high level to be useful to us. It doesn’t offer energy consumption figures by city block. Nisha was in Madison, WI recently and met with the organization, Seventh Wave. It will disaggregate utility data, for a subscription fee, without violating security. It may be possible to make a group agreement with other municipalities for a better rate. With Dominion’s consent, Seventh Wave could get the data, scrub it and give us what we request. Block by block, zone by zone. Arlington has maps of emissions by zone. Analysis revealed that the commercial corridor is much lower in per capita energy use than residential areas. Much could be done with the right data. Sometimes utilities can target high users. We might target specific neighborhoods, compare them, develop a targeted policy – maybe focus first on commercial, or whomever is the biggest consumer.  Nisha will explore the possibilities for data collection with Dominion and Seventh Wave and see where it goes. Tim and Kate will take this to the next COG meeting to gauge interest in a collective effort. Alternatively, Falls Church could do it separately.  Nisha will talk to John Morrill (Arlington energy manager) about how they’re getting their data broken down. They have some revealing mapped data for the commercial area.  Nisha and Kate will talk to Dominion’s Key Account Manager, Brandon Jones Smith, about data access. Can we get in‐home read‐outs of data? How are they working with O‐Power? Green Power Community data needs. To become a Green Power Partner (with EPA) the City bought a portfolio of RECs assembled by Three Degrees. The City needs to report annually on the proportion of Green Power used. Dominion can tell us how much energy is used and the proportion that is green power, but they are unable to give us data by account, which would help us know more explicitly how we’re doing and where we could improve. The city has more than 70 accounts for all its facilities. This is a long running issue Kate is trying to resolve. In addition, for the City as a whole, Dominion’s record of green power purchased doesn’t account for RECs purchased independently by citizens. More communications and outreach will be needed to obtain that information. Solarize II outreach planning The second Solarize Falls Church program runs mid March to mid May. The Northern Virginia Regional Commission (NVRC) and the Local Energy Alliance Program (LEAP) are hosting it. Falls Church, Vienna, and Fairfax city each have a program. Segora and STI are the contractors. Pricing came in recently at $2.95 per watt generated. Energy check ups will be performed outside business hours. See www.Solarizenova.org. The payback on a solar installation is currently approximately 7 years. We must rapidly communicate with residents about this. The Council passed a resolution supporting it at its last meeting and mandating the program.  Kate is working on a newsletter piece.  The City will have door hangers and hangers for the back of the trashcans.  Clare ’n Don’s “swamp” is available for presentations about Solarize. We could ask for sponsors to cover the $12/head for refreshments they’re asking. (Possibly Easter seals? Clare ’n Don’s and Easter Seals have solar installations.)  Lawn signs would cost $16 ea. X 50 = $800  A drawing by one of the Operation Earthwatch students could also be used with the theme, “Do it for your children” o We could have the youth artist at a City Council meeting to promote use of the solarize drawing.  At the kick off it would be good to have presentations by a representative of Solarize and one from the bank that is offering financing.  Potential kick off date: April 3. Clare ‘n Don’s might talk about the system on their roof.  John Bellingham could speak about Easter Seals’ system.  Tim could get someone to do an overview of the state of solar  Kate will invite Bob Lazaro and Ryan van Patten to speak.  Andy will help with the Farmers’ Market publicity  The City blog will include something.  The launch date will be included on the flyer to be handed out at Market. (Kate)  Kate will see if the GMHS electronic sign could be used.  Lions Club presentation Mar 15 on Operation Earthwatch will also publicize it. (Kate).  Seven sandwich boards could also publicize the event through posters. (Could Lions produce them?) (Kate)  Farmers Market compost tent is ours as needed. Not staffed until April 9. We could set it up at 3/15. Would need sandwich board poster.  Kate will send out a note recruiting volunteers for these various city events.  Tim will be at the LWV film screening Sunday and will speak on Solarize.   Kate has a short blurb that can be sent to neighborhood listserves.  Publicity is also in the VPIS newsletter  FC Cable TV ‐ could do 30min info program (Tim investigating) $50.  Outreach to churches: o Kate: St. James, Columbia Baptist. o Tim: Presbyterian church o Peter: Christ Crossman  Boy and Girl Scouts (Chris)  W&OD sign? (Kate to investigate)  “Hillwood Herald” list serve (Nisha to speak with Elizabeth Meade) Also: A Dept. of Energy program for small cities is accepting proposals for collection of data at all levels. It will need a grant proposal. Nisha will watch for it. The meeting adjourned at 9:15pm