Environmental Sustainability Council

ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY COUNCIL (ESC) ENERGY TRANSISTION SUBCOMMITTEE (ETS) Saturday, January 27, 2024, Cherry Hill Farmhouse, 1:00 – 2:30 p.m. WALK-THROUGH ENERGY AUDIT -- DRAFT MINUTES 1. ETS Attendees: Jon Ward (chair), Mike Trauberman, Matt Cunningham. City Staff: Andy Young (ESC ETS Staff Liaison), Kurt Lawrence (Environmental Planner), Holly Irwin (Sr. Recreation Specialist), Laura Arsenau (Planning Dept.), ESC Planning Commission Liaison: Tim Stevens, Public: Ron Anzalone (Historical Commission). 2. Introductions & Background. Andy Young reviewed the intent of conducting a preliminary, volunteer-led energy audit of the city-owned Farmhouse. Holly Irwin distributed copies of a 1977 post-renovation summary of the property. Jon Ward summarized recent annual energy usage trends, and he and Matt Cunningham distributed audit checklists to attendees. 3. Walk-through: Attendees walked through each room, including the attic and basement, documenting and photographing features relevant to energy efficiency. They also examined exterior lights and walls. No tests were performed (e.g., blower door; duct blaster) and no improvements were made. They used an infrared camera to look for interior cold spots. In wrap-up discussions, attendees noted opportunities for: HVAC maintenance; weatherstripping; curtains or window inserts for insulation; replacing incandescent lights with LEDs; a programmable thermostat; sealing against chimney drafts; and adding insulation. Upgrading the old heat pump is a high-cost option that could significantly reduce energy use. Jon offered to make available a Google Drive for uploading notes and photos, giving editing access to all attendees. 4. Follow-Up Plan: The ETS will lead the drafting of an audit report and provide it to the ESC and City staff as soon as practical. Andy and Kurt took action items to (a) check HVAC maintenance records for the Farmhouse and (b) confirm whether friable asbestos is present in the structure or duct insulation. Asbestos could preclude the possibility of performing ‘Blower Door’ and ‘Duct Blaster’ tests to help find and quantify air leaks.