Environmental Sustainability Council

Environmental Sustainability Council/Energy Transition Subcommittee Meeting Minutes September 26, 2024 ❖ 7:00pm 300 Park Ave, Council Chambers, Falls Church, Virginia 22046 • Call to order • Roll Call - ESC City Staff Liaison: Kurt Lawrence - ESC Members / Liaisons: Michael Trauberman, ESC Vice Chair, Chris Behr, ESC Member, Sarah Bayldon, ESC Member, Matthew Cunningham, ESC Member, David Stile, ESC Member Tim Stevens, Planning Liaison, Jon Ward, ETS chair - Student Representatives: Hayden Kusic, Serena Binkowski, Lilly Anderson, Allie Campbell, Duke Crespin • Public Comment Period Jon W. discussed a letter prepared by the Falls Church Climate Action Network that itemized specific recommendations to the City Council about how to spend funds to expedite implementation of the Community and Governmental Operations Energy Action Plans (CEAP and GOEAP). The letter can be found here: FCCAN Letter: Energy and Climate Project Priorities for FY2025 Supplemental Funding. Jon W. introduced each of the following 7 recommendations, noting how each helps the City achieve its CEAP and GOEAP strategic objectives. • Jump-Start City-Owned Rooftop Solar on Aurora House and/or the Community Center (GOEAP Strategy 4). • Follow-through on Commercial Energy Audits and a Power-Purchase Consultant (CEAP Action 3.2, GOEAP Strategy 4). • Finish a Green Building Policy with Consultant Aid. (CEAP Strategies 3 & 4) • Help Residents Obtain Home Energy Assessments (CEAP Action 3.2). • Sponsor a ‘Green Expo’ Event. (CEAP Strategies 1, 2, 3 & 5). • Help Staff Use the Property Assessment Database to track progress in decarbonizing our building stock through electrification (CEAP Action 6.2). • Add Plain Bike Racks near commercial areas, especially south of Broad Street (CEAP Action 1.1). ESC members briefly discussed the recommendations and actions it could take relative to this letter including potentially endorsing some or part of FCCAN, considering Staff recommendations on budget priorities, and preparing a separate letter of its own to City Council. This discussion was tabled to the end of the meeting. Additional questions arose for Kurt L. about seeking to understand the status of the City’s compilation of government/school building energy use data. Kurt L. responded that data is currently being collected but that activities in tracking and reporting on performance will be only fully implemented once a person is hired by the City with that responsibility.  ESC members indicated that if there are issues or limitations with the current process of data collection and analysis that EPA EnergyStar tools, like the Portfolio Manager API using data from Dominion Energy meters, could be used for data collection and strategic planning. Jon W. also noted that the GOEAP indicated that audits were planned to be implemented every year. The discussion highlighted the need to hire the right person soon to lead this effort for the City. • July Meeting Minutes were unanimously approved • Liaison Report – Kurt L. provided updates on a number of initiatives being led by the City including: 1) One Stop Shop Updates: New topics have been added to the One Stop Shop website, including: Geothermal Heat Pumps, and Home Energy Audits. For each topic, information provided include a description of the activity / technology, benefits, costs, permitting issues and potentially relevant governmental programs. Kurt L. also noted that the website also discusses the Cherry Hill Farmhouse Energy Efficiency Improvements initiative. That information includes a 1-page summary of the activity, as well as a video of the improvements and a Walkthrough Energy Audit Report written by members of the Environmental Sustainability Council and Energy Transition Subcommittee of the ESC. ESC members asked if Kurt L. had information on numbers of visitors to the website. Kurt L. mentioned that one comment had been received from the survey on the site. Kurt L. would have to get more information on the website manager to know how many people visit the site. Kurt L. indicated that future plans for the site could include topics on electric lawn equipment and e-bikes. 2) Cherry Hill Farmhouse Energy Efficiency Improvements: Kurt L. indicated that the improvements consisted of programmable thermostat, LED lights, insulation and weather stripping, and maintaining heating and cooling equipment. ESC members recommended that an open house could be conducted again, especially since visitors to the farmers market were drawn to the farmhouse. In addition, the ESC members indicated that it would be good to know if data could be collected to assess whether the changes led to energy use reductions. 3) Park(ing) Day (Flyer and Photos): On Sept 20, the City demonstrated the alternative use of parking spaces by taking over several spots for a day on S. Maple Avenue. The site was a pop-up ‘parklet’ that had information and kid-oriented activities. The City staff provided information about new perspectives on urban spaces. The plants used to demarcate the parklet were then planted at a nearby existing park. 4) National Clean Energy Week (Website and Proclamation). Kurt L. provided information about the event and the City’s support. 5) New City Vehicles: EV and Plug-in Hybrid. Kurt L. provided information and photos about the new EV and hybrid EV motor-pool cars. ESC members asked if there may be future opportunities for the police to purchase e-bikes. • ETS Update – Jon Ward covered a number of topics in the ETS update including: Government Operations Energy Action Plan (GOEAP) 1) GOEAP tasks assigned to new hire? Jon W. asked about clarifying the status to Kurt L. who re-iterated from earlier in the meeting that the hiring process was proceeding. 2) Rooftop solar: structural assessment? Jon W. inquired about the status and Kurt L. indicated that Aurora House was moving forward – a new roof was completed, other upgrades  were in place or planned (e.g. electrical upgrades, mini-split, oven range). The structural assessment for a solar installation was planned for October. 3) Commercial Energy Audit Pilot Program status: Kurt L. indicated that several months ago, this initiative was started to create a cost-share approach that would lower the cost of audits to commercial entities. The fundamental challenge in moving forward was in the difficulty in finding an experienced vendor for an affordable cost to the City, relative to its budget. The City continues to consider options for implementation, including partnerships with Dominion or grant programs. Few pilot projects exist to learn from. Kurt L. would report on status in the next meeting. 4) Sep. 7th Cherry Hill Farmhouse Showcase: Discussed elsewhere, nothing to add here. 5) Consultant for Virtual Power Purchase Agreement: Kurt L. indicated that there was not much to report; the City was still considering options. 6) FCCPS next steps on GOEAP: Reported that the 4th e-bus was under contract and that 2 more have been ordered. At the same time, an additional diesel bus was acquired. Mike T. indicated that we might learn from the process to figure out how to better engage with FCCPS about GOEAP objectives. A student, Duke, offered to track school board meetings to find out more about future FCCPS initiatives that could affect GOEAP goals. 7) Forum at MHS: https://faithforclimate.org/news-events/climatecrisis-forum/ . Only indicates as an announcement. Community Energy Action Plan (CEAP). Jon W. continued in discussing additional items 1) Challenges to reaching the CEAP’s potential (chart next slide): Only suggests 30% reduction, not 50% City goal and it relies on Dominion, less driving, and heat pumps for 80% of progress. 2) Enough renewable energy to keep up with Data Centers? Data centers while pledging to be green could absorb much of Dominion’s planned increase in renewable energy. 3) Whether & how to estimate Vehicle Miles Traveled: Longitudinal Survey? The analysis of energy reduction relied primarily on a regional average of travel patterns, not something that was directly related to transportation decisions in the City specifically. Jon W. wondered if a longitudinal survey of a specific sample of City residents could provide better information on the transportation activities of City residents. 4) One Stop Shop: EPA’s EnergyStar Heat Pump Saving Calculator, and Electrification Obstacle: Service Panel (Circuit Breaker Box): the One Stop Shop mentions the need to consult an electrician. ESC members discussed the need to develop more data that captures activities of City residents to reach the CEAP goals. Currently, the CEAP model has not been established with a clear baseline of quantifiable performance indicators (e.g. current number of heat pumps relative to potential number of heat pumps, or miles driven by a City-resident specific fleet of vehicles – including EVs). Efforts could be undertaken to use a variety of metrics to track progress. Some suggestions were made and could be developed further. • ESC Memo on Funding Environmental Initiatives. ESC members discussed options for taking action on funding environmental initiatives including some combination of: finalizing its Draft memo from June, endorsing the letter from FCCAN, and endorsing City Staff recommendations (which includes funding on a “greening Lincoln” project, Community Center HVAC improvements, Annandale Rd intersection improvement, Fellows Park, and Bike Route to School. It was proposed and approved to endorse the FCCAN letter and as well as general support for funding bike lanes as part of the Bike Master Plan. • State Legislative Update Mike T. discussed the development of the annual memo from the City to support legislative actions. He referenced several documents including: 2024 Legislative Priorities from ESC Draft, and 2024 Legislative Priorities from ESC Final, and the Virginia Conservation Network Common Agenda. Mike T. indicated that ESC should prepare to discuss its priorities to be added to the City Council package of priorities, ideally to have a higher profile in that document. He asked about timing and Kurt L. indicated that he would check with Ms. Cindy Mester on when the City would vote on a final document. Mike T. indicated that this year may be different particularly because of the dramatic growth in data centers, continued opportunities for improving energy efficiency, and potential for enhancing geothermal sources. • Adjourn