Environmental Sustainability Council
Regular MeetingFalls Church, VA · April 1, 2021
Minutes
ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY COUNCIL (ESC)
ENERGY TRANSISTION SUBCOMMITTEE (ETS)
Thursday, April 1, 2021, Virtual Meeting via Microsoft Teams, 7:30 – 9:30 p.m.
DRAFT MINUTES
1. Attendees: Jon Ward (Chair), Mike Trauberman (ESC), Stacy Noblet. City Staff: Kate Walker
(ESC ETS Staff Liaison). City Council Liaison: Debbie Hiscott. Guest Speaker: Ryan Van Patten
(Local Energy Alliance Program [LEAP])
This meeting was held via electronic communications using ‘Microsoft Teams.’ This meeting was
held pursuant to and in compliance with the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, Section 2.2-
3708.2 and state and local legislation adopted to allow for continued government operation during
the COVID-19 declared emergency. The recording of the meeting is available at https://fallschurch-
va.granicus.com/player/clip/1435?view_id=2&redirect=true.
2. Home Energy Assessments: Ryan Van Patten discussed LEAP’s energy audit and retrofit services,
many of which are heavily subsidized by Dominion and Washington Gas programs and free for
income-, age-, and disability-qualifying residents. Renters require property-owner approval, which
can make implementation challenging. LEAP also offers a $45 market-rate audit and services to
homeowners in the Falls Church area. Kate & Debbie discussed outreach through the City’s Health
and Human Services department and to seniors using existing mailing lists. Jon noted that the
property manager for a City-owned low-income building had declined LEAP’s offer for an audit, for
reasons unknown.
3. Founders Row 2 Early Comments: Attendees developed comments to be presented by the ESC at
the Planning Commission’s April 7 Town Hall regarding the proposed Founders Row 2 project
across from Founders Row 1. The proposal is for 319 rental units (339k sq.ft.) and a modest amount
of ground-floor retail (16k sq.ft.). To support electric vehicle (EV) use, Stacy noted the benefit of
installing Level 2 (208V/240V) chargers to support newer, longer-range vehicles; owners’ desires
for fully charging overnight; and data interconnectivity for management of charging schedules.
Action Item #1: Jon will draft and distribute comments recommending at least 5% of spaces initially
equipped with chargers, and a site and electrical plan that facilitates adding extensive EV-charging
infrastructure through the life of the building.
Action Item #2: Mike will draft and distribute comments recommending LEED Gold certification
(Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) with energy consumption at least 10% below the
LEED baseline if certifying under LEED version 4.1, or 20% if certifying under LEED version 4.0.
4. Rooftop Solar: Kate reported that the Capital Area Solar Co-Op has launched. It will have an
April 5 info session. The co-op, covering D.C., Arlington, Falls Church, and multiple Maryland
jurisdictions including Montgomery County, will seek bulk pricing from installers of solar panels
and EV chargers. Separately, LEAP’s Solarize program selected the same contractor as in 2020.
5. Next Meeting
May 6, 2021, 7:30 p.m., likely virtual via Microsoft Teams.
Agenda
Environmental Sustainability Council
Energy Transition Subcommittee
Meeting Agenda
Thursday, April 1, 2021 7:30-9:30 p.m.
Virtual Meeting: https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-
join/19%3ameeting_NTUwYjYyYzEtOWYxNi00MTRiLWI4N2UtNDUyMzk4YWVmNmJi%40th
read.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%2273ba5b04-4ace-4ae3-a6b2-
65cbc403418b%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%2227fc222d-adce-4816-a45e-bcf2b001d974%22%7d
NOTICE: This meeting will be held pursuant to and in compliance with the Virginia Freedom of
Information Act, Section 2.2-3708.2 and state and local legislation adopted to allow for continued
government operation during the COVID-19 declared emergency. All participating members will be
present at this meeting through electronic means. All members of the public may view this electronic
meeting via the meeting link listed above and in the City’s website calendar.
Public comments may be submitted to kwalker@fallschurchva.gov until 7:30 p.m. on Thursday,
April 1st, 2021. All comments will be provided to the ESC Energy Transition Subcommittee
members and comments received by the deadline will be read during the meeting.
PLEASE NOTE: This meeting will be conducted using Microsoft Teams. Don't have the Teams
app? You can still join a Teams meeting. See the instructions attached to this meeting agenda.
Please email kwalker@fallschurchva.gov if you need assistance with installation. During the
meeting, staff will likely not be available to assist with installation.
1) Call to Order; Roll Call
2) Reading of Virtual Meeting Notice
3) Building Energy Efficiency – Weatherization Ryan van Patten, LEAP
4) Electric Vehicles – Voluntary Concessions for EV infrastructure; EV Ready and EVSE Installed
Benchmarking
5) Solar Campaigns (plus EV chargers and batteries) – Solarize; Capital Area Solar Co-op
6) Greenhouse Gas Action Plan – Comp Plan Environment Chapter 5; Chapter 5 Action Items
7) Review and Approval of February Minutes
8) Adjourn
Environmental Sustainability Council
Energy Transition Subcommittee
Staff Liaison: Kate Walker
(571) 581-9818,
kwalker@fallschurchva.gov
The City of Falls Church is committed to the letter and spirit of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
To request a reasonable accommodation for any type of disability, call 703-248-5297 (TTY711).
Instructions for joining a Microsoft Teams meeting:
Click here to watch a video with instructions for joining a Teams meeting
Join a Teams meeting on a phone or tablet
1. Click the meeting link provided.
2. Download the Teams app for your device when prompted:
Type in your name.
Choose the audio and video settings you want.
3. Select Join now.
4. Depending on meeting settings, you'll get in right away, or go to a lobby where someone in
the meeting can admit you.
Join a Teams meeting on the web or through a web browser on a phone or tablet
Don't have the Teams app? You can still join a Teams meeting.
1. Click or copy and paste the meeting link provided.
2. You have two choices:
Download the Windows app: Download the Teams app.
Join on the web instead: Join a Teams meeting on the web.
3. Type in your name.
4. Choose the audio and video settings you want.
5. Select Join now.
6. Depending on meeting settings, you'll get in right away, or go to a lobby where someone in
the meeting can admit you.
Get email alerts for Falls Church
A daily email when new agendas and minutes are posted.