6.3. SR 07-19-2010}__
Item # 6.3.
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor & City Council
FROM: Rebecca Haug, Environmental Administrator
DATE: July 19, 2010
SUBJECT: Phase I Project Conserve Update
"Project Conserve" is a program designed to reduce residential electric (20%), water (25%),
natural gas (10%), fuel (25%), and garbage consumption (25%) over a five year time period.
The goal of the program was to have 30 families participate for one year in a pilot program
to see if the goals set by the Energy City Commission could be achieved by making small
lifestyle changes and saving the participants money. There were approximately 130 residents
who applied for this program and staff had a very hard time paring that down to 40. It was
assumed that there would be a drop out rate. So, 40 residents were selected based on the
size of their home, the number of people living in their home, the age of their home, their
willingness to share what they learn, and if they had e-mail as a goal of the Ciry is to reduce
paper waste when possible.
After the first phase, October 2008-Apri12010, staff had the remaining 31 participants
calculate their electricity, water, and natural gas use to see if they had reduced their
consumption while participating in the program. The results were encouraging as there was
a 12% savings in both electricity and water and a 5% savings in natural gas. These savings
equated to actual money saved. The gold winner of Phase I is Tim Goerdt saving $499,
silver winner is Eric Silvola saving $464 and bronze winner is Al Kachel saving $434.
The second phase of Project Conserve has started by the solicitation of applications. To
date, there have been approximately 230 received. The goal is to have 500 participants.
Attached is a brochure that has been created to encourage additional residents to sign up.
Applications are available on both the Ciry and Elk River Municipal Utilities websites as well
as the Energy Ciry website or by calling 763-635-1000 or 763-441-2020.
C:\Documents and Settings\XPMUser\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\OLK66\Memoformat-Phase I Update.doc
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Find us on Facebook and Twitter today for daily tips to conserve
energy in your home or business. Facebook.com and search for
Elk River Energy City
In Phase I of Project Conserve,
35 participants saw reductions as high as
32% in their water consumption.
The benefits of Project Conserve are in your
control. Five participants out of 35 in Phase
saw electric savings of over 25%.
Additionally seven of 28 participants saw
first year natural gas savings of over 10%.
Just a few modifications to your lifestyle
and you can be saving energy and cash
while making an impact on our world.
A SMALL CHANC~~
Phase I Customers saw first year savings of:
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up to $500
and that's just after one year!
WI~#AT TO ~XP~CT
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Aside from helping Elk River become more
recognizable as Energy City, as a program
participant you can expect to see savings across
the board in resource consumption. Those
savings translate directly into
Gost Savings in:
`, Water
Electric
Natural Gas
Transportation & Organics
Recycling
PLUS an increase in recycling will lead to a
decrease in garbage collection.
* note, Project Conserve is only available to
Elk River residents or customers of Elk River
Municipal Utilities
HOW ~O I JOIN
,~. ~. V
So now what? Sign up for the opportunity to join
Project Conserve,
Fill out an application:
Call City Mall Q 763.635.1000
Check your utility bill
Call Elk River Municipal
Utilities @ 763.441.2020
~~ Go online
ci.elk-rivermn.us
elkriverenergyc'rkyorcl
elkriverutilities.com
Be committed to trying to make small lifestyle
changes that add up to big differences.
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Now that you've seen what Project
Conserve can do, we invite you to
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"This project was made possible
kay a grant from the
U.S. Department of Energy and
the Minnesota Department of
Gommer~ce through the American
Recovery and Reinvestment Act
of 2QQ9 (ARRA)." wv
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,~y City launched Project Conserve irr?_003.
''(?roject is aimed at encouraging residents of
River to reduce electric, gas, water anti
ol'Iniv consumption and decreasevv(~rat goes.
the waste stream,
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River iSP~linnesota's first Energy City and is
~e up of a greup of energy-related businesses,
~stnes, end governmental entities united in the
5f that the production and consumption of
rgy is one of the leading environmental issues
~c~ the world today.
arced gas,electric and
;r equals big time savings
~u and your budget
d on to find out what
ect Conserve can do for