Loading...
5.4. SR 06-13-2011N ~~ Elk _ REQUEST FOR ACTION River TO ITEM NUMBER Ma or & Ci Council 5.4. AGENDA SECTION MEETING DATE PREPARED BY Woxksession June 13, 2011 Rebecca Haug, Environmental Administrator ITEM DESCRIPTION REVIEWED By Project Conserve Phase III Vance Zehrin er, ERMU REVIEWED BY Tim Simon, Finance Director ACTION REQUESTED Approve Phase III of Project Conserve to include homeowners, apartment dwellers, and businesses. BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION The City of Elk River and Elk River Municipal Utilities (ERMU) staff have been carrying out Phase II of Project Conserve. Through the program, the City of Elk River and ERMU were able to provide over 300 households with a direct avenue to help them conserve natural resources and save money on energy costs. This was accomplished through various outreach methods, including free consultations, four informational workshops, periodic newsletters, and a brand new energy audit program carried out by city building inspectors and ERMU utility workers. The energy audit program, though in its infancy, was extremely successful, with the auditors receiving overwhelmingly positive reviews for their diligence, service, and knowledge. CWerall, Project Conserve is succeeding in its conservation goals and forming a valuable bond between the city and its citizens. Project Conserve is aforward-thinking community-based program that serves the citizens of Elk River. Through the program, citizens are able to interact with city and utility staff as partners to achieve common resource conservation goals. This program has been beneficial in creating a positive relationship between staff and residents. Many communities are trying to replicate this program. The city & ERMU have received awards from the League of MN Cities, the Recycling Association of MN, Minnesota Municipal Utility Association, and Harvard University for this program. Project Conserve Phase III will continue to work with homeowners, but will also be expanded to be available to apartment dwellers and business owners. Through the program, the City of Elk River and ERMU can continue to develop new. and even stronger partnerships within the community. FINANCIAL IMPACT Thanks to a grant by the U.S. Department of Energy and the Minnesota Department of Commerce through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009, all of the equipment to conduct the energy audits and expand the program have been purchased. City building inspectors and ERMU utility workers received training to conduct the residential audits through the grant. In 2011, the city N:\Public Bodies\City Council\Council RCA\Agenda Packet\06-13-2011\Project Conserve.docx budgeted $5,000 and in the proposed 2012 budget, staff has $10,000 budgeted to fund further training to conduct commercial audits. In partnership with the program, ERMU has budgeted additional funding and staff time to implement Phase III. ATTACHMENTS ^ Phase III application form Action Motion by Second by Vote Follow Up N:\Public Bodies\City Council\Council RCA\Agenda Packet\06-13-2011\Project Conserve.docx Please Consider Participating In Project Conserve -Phase III! Project Conserve is an Energy City sponsored program designed to demonstrate that we, as a community, are serious about conserving our natural resources. The Energy City Commission established five year project goals including; a reduction in electric use of 20%, a reduction in water use of 25%, a reduction in home heating fuel of 10%, a reduction in garbage of 25%, and a reduction of gasoline use of 25%. This is a stretch, but we think the community is up to it! In order to determine how realistic these goals were, a pilot test involving 35 families was launched in late 2008. Participants were encouraged to attend several "how to" workshops and were given a number of devices to help reduce electric and water use such as Kill-A-Watt meters, water conservation kits, and soil moisture probes. Participants also received free $250 blower door tests, infrared scans, and furnace efficiency tests of their homes to help identify areas that needed work to reduce heating fuel use. A monthly newsletter outlining resource saving ideas was provided, and ideas and success stories were shared on a frequent basis via the Internet. Results of the pilot test were encouraging! Four dropped out and 5 of the remaining 31 participants exceeded the electric goal with the highest @ 33.2% reduction. Five of the 25 participants on city water exceeded the water conservation goal with the highest @ 32% reduction. Seven of 29 participants using natural gas exceeded the heating fuel goal with the highest @ 30% reduction. An organics recycling program was started and resulted in a significant reduction in garbage. Several stated switching to the smallest refuse container with collection every other week! The highest individual 1St year savings was $499 not counting savings in gasoline use! In 2010, we expanded Project Conserve to include the entire community. Over 300 families signed up with over 100 requesting the optional home energy audits. Results are still pending as they continue to learn more ways to conserve resources. Results for Phase II will be available in Nov 2011. We are now looking for up to 500 families to participate in Phase III. If you live in the Elk River city limits, and are provided electricity by either Elk River Municipal Utilities or Connexus Energy, or that part of Otsego and Dayton served by Elk River Municipal Utilities please feel free to sign up. We're looking for homeowners who are genuinely interested in conserving resources. The deadline for signing up is September 15t'' with October 15th being the launch date of this next phase. All you need to do to sign up is fill out the application form and return it to City Hall. We will notify you in September about exact dates for information workshops, etc. Questions? Call Rebecca at 763-635-1068 or Vance at 763-635-1330 '.~,,„ ELKRNER k ~.: E~1=RGYCIT'Y: ~~ ~~~ nE~ ~?0 -a •. iG & F Name Address Phone # Project Conserve Application --Phase III Are you an electric customer of Elk River Municipal Utilities? If yes, for how long at this address? If no, who is your electric company? 2. Do you receive water from Elk River Municipal Utilities municipal water system? 3. How many square feet of heated living space in your house including basement? sq ft Or if you live in an apartment building, how many square feet in your unit? sq ft 4. Do you rent or own your house or apartment? If you rent, do you think the building owner is interested in cutting costs by conserving resources? des, no 5. When was your house or apartment building built? Has it been reinsulated? 6. How many people live in your house or apartment ,and do you live in it all year 7. Do you use electricity or gas to heat your water? (circle correct response) 8. How is your house heated-- natural gas, propane, fuel oil, electric, geothermal, or wood (circle correct responses) 9. Do you have central, through the wall, or window air conditioning? (circle correct response) 10. Do you have CFL (spirals) or LED light bulbs installed? If yes, how many? 11. Do you have a home computer? If yes, how many? 12. How is your lawn watered (in-ground sprinkler, hose, association)? (circle correct response) 13. Do you recycle paper, glass, aluminum, tin, or organics? If yes, circle which ones. 14. Approximately how many miles per year do you drive (all vehicles combined)? 15. Have you done anything in the last 5 years that greatly increases or decreases the amount of electricity, heating fuel, water or transportation fuel that you use? If yes, what? 16. As a participant in PROJECT CONSERVE, would you be willing to let others learn from your experience and be willing to share results in a confidential manner? 17. Would you like to receive Project Conserve correspondence via email or postal mail? 18. If you have one, please list your a-mail address To be eligible to participate in Project Conserve, you must be a resident of Elk River, or if you live in either Otsego or Dayton, you must be an electric customer of Elk River Municipal Utilities. Drop off your completed application at City Hall, or Mail to: Project Conserve, 13065 Orono Pkwy, Elk River, MN 55330. Project Conserve was made possible in part by funding from the U.S. Department of Energy and the Minnesota Department of Commerce throueh the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRAI ~I /f INTERNATIONAL VISITOR LEADERSHIP PROGRAM http://exchangesstate.gov/education/ivp Introduction Alumni 'The L.S. Department of: State's Bureau {YLPSfJnPgtOT Almost :300 IV hP ahtmni are of I?ducational and Culnual Affairs eucrent oc former Flcads of Funds and ad'mInisters the Internation:il Government or Chiefs of State. Visitor Leadership Program (IVLI'), one • OYet 130,OQ0 Intentationai Ytsiiors _}lu,nril include: of its premier professional exchange ~'R Partiapated in Bte psngrdm Since programs. 'The Ib'LP is designed to build iEs inception ~ 1340. • Pree4dent Havtrfd Ii~n: rai o % mutual understanding between the U.S. . lOtyFt~al ~tp p~e~ ~ ~~ y~ekg ~ _ AJ~bunirtnvt (`8?) and other countries through carefull}' in length, and atetudeS Yi52s to fur designed visits that reflect the participants' U.S. tifieS. MP parGc:'ipart8s meet Wiif1 • prendent fllvare l hzGr G ek~~ of professional interests and support LIS. professional eountecparis and visit U_S" <;o/amGez ~,~~~ foreign polio}' goals. Participants are pu6GC and p[tteate SBCCof ott,]aRIZailon5 established ar potential foreign opuilon n:tated to the propel thecne_ In addition, ItIS ae'e ¢Stmlly honied by • Prerrdenf [Llu~cri KiGarkl o{ Kettpae makers in goverxnnent, public polio}', Ame[ican faEtdGes 8ttd pa[fictipaie in (~99) media, educa.riov, labor, the arts, and other Ctilf3t[al aCttvt~ies. ke}~ fields. Selected bi' ~nerican embassies • Tr/rkirli Pre~~irTrru t3h~darllals Gad abroad, International Visirors come to • ~ en e~enple, ten Rashtun t[d7a1 (9~) the !-fni±<_d Stares ro m_eee and confer ~.vith elders and cocrrcctunify leaders tram their professional counterparts and ro gain ~0 6oCdeP fegiGtlS O4AfghaniSt2n 8etd pajpSgn met Yw4it1 U_S, gave[nment ` FornrerPrunn lbSini.der F-Pe!€x Guru an appreciation of the ethnic, atltucal, ¢fFtCiatS and non'9ovemmental ertb'fies of ]Vcui %ecalund (`98J political, and socio-economic diversity t0 explore Sitategies of cross~tvrder of the U.S. In 2009, approximately 4,400 eaoperation and the integration ~ Ural . President Nr~olo.r Sarkol ~ of International Visitors participated in 761 ~ end goVeEnaRCe ~~ 1s3tlofkll Prax<e /'KS) projects through the program. dewetapraent pnont<es. ' • {li arty fjlVen point during rite Ileac • Pnrne Minister G~nrdort Brmvn o~ The The IV LP is carried out through close ~ppgy(y 2$©iVs a[e on prajee(s Unzferl krn~+dom 04/'92) collaboration with seven non-profit in rite Urx~aed Shea Ir12009, over program agencies in ~'CashIngtot>, ~.C_ 4,4L10 Ns participated in cverT61 and a nehvoxk of over 90 communin^- proleEEs on then~s StrCh 85; EdCCat10llal and [r0ltllrai PPO9f amS based organizations across @te IJ.C, whose t:nunter~errorism "The International Visttox Leadership mevtbers arrange professional meetings, • tnie[[Safi€xtal tli[rte and DNg Program exchanges art among cultural activities and home hospitalitj pre~entian more titan 3QOt10 annual exctanges for the visitors. "These argaruzations are • Qf1ETii13ttr~ HNIRfpS managed by the Depaxttnenl' of members- of the National Council for • Civic Eduea4ion State's Brueau of Echxcaeiarrd and International ~Tisiroxs. (hhfr//wamuxzx:o-r~/). • ~~ t~an9ge[[tCrtt Cultural Affairs. Orther academic Tens of thousanuds of Americans volunteer • Fa~gn RoCICy and professional exchange progxatns eheir time and expertise to stxengthcning • • ReLgierus To~rarsee Darnocracy snd Rule ~ laNr includ'c die Pvlbni ht Pro>xam. and' g b relations lxnveen the United' States and • ~ the C'i'troen Exchanges Program. Pot other countries du~ough the International fiirthcx information, see. C~ISICO,L Leadelsltup Prclgl'atn. WWfU.CYChR11~9CR ttRYY.,$!/Y.~ `ThR ~FZ Itrp~YgUa O~PYIIJ/Ltelb r Op/Jarlnnm'h i 10 ., ' 1l1PlIPrtJ'raA(/ tl'Y [)b/fiPGi SYC/1sJ GRi4{ 1FJC !Imzranazr fJtlOple lhTO&~J drrr4t C.X~CiZeMee pA61 /0 DNlr(5Y' atR~/IC]~J1P , - E01.7) (31!!dl". lOrAX) gF[7/Jh PIIY?t Ll~t#ZJ7P1' ,. ". 7?FVFRT7vAH,NT itF :Tit P1IR~1il I ~')b€'A33C~~tJn G. AGH1 CftL Flfry 44 i. i'T'., .?:S @~/tp ~~V ~3-1 ~~~~~~~~ ELKRIVER EN.RGYCITY ~SMONSTggTING THE POWER OF EFFICIENT 6 pENE`f'jgO~E ENE ~{ Elk River has been known as "Energy City" since 1997 when the Minnesota Environmental Initiative chose it from over 30 other applying communities to act as a geographical focal point for the demonstration of efficient and renewable energy products, services, and technologies. In 2006, Elk River "Energy City" received a state trademark, in 2007 the Legislature recognized Elk River as Energy City, and in 2008, Elk River received a federal trademark Elk River is set to be recognized as a "Step 2" GreenStep City at the 2011 League of Minnesota Cities Conference. :. --~ Elk River "Energy City" has developed a terrific reputation through the U.S. State Department International Visitor Leadership Program. It is one of the most requested stops in the U.S. Representatives from over ~4 countries have visited Energy City through the U.S. State Department and the Minnesota International Center. City and utility staff regularly host tour groups as large as 360 people. Landfill Gas-to-Electric Power Plant GRE Resource Recovery Plant (Largest one in Minnesota) (One of two in Minnesota) A unique marketing tool to attract business, those in the energy sector A launching platform from which to showcase creative initiatives and new efficient technologies ~A title that no other city in Minnesota can claim Recognition throughout the state, country, and WORLD With continued support, Energy City is more than a name; it's an asset; and something to be proud of. ELKRIVER EN=RGYC1 O~MONSTRATING THE POWER OF EFFICIENT 6 RENE`NABt"E Er1E~' PROJECT CONSERVE f dog PC ip ___. ' r..; f A valuable program Project Conserve is an outreach and education program designed to teach the average person simple ways to conserve energy, produce less waste, reduce their heating, electrical, and water bills, and live a more efficient lifestyle. ~~~ ~~:.. .~.,..-tea .,rl-~ i - Start-up funding was provided by the City of E{k River. Elk River Municipal Utilities, and a grant provitled by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. 3 Phase I (2008-09) Phase II (2010-11) Phase III (2011-12) • Open to homes Open to homes Open to homes, apartments, & businesses • 35 households (invite 300+ households (open Goal of 500+ (open sign- only) sign-up) up) • Contracted energy Offered own energy Will offer energy audits & audits audits business walkthroughs • Workshops available in Workshops available on Workshops available on person only N, DVD, & online N, DVD, & online 1 t • Informational workshops Free or inexpensive home energy audits Access to conservation tools ^Free consultations Periodic newsletters with tips and recommendations Save Our Precious Resources (SOPR) teams of multiple households that work together Granting the means and knowledge to save hundreds on energy bills & natural resources. ~~Reduce electric use by 20% =Reduce water use by 25% Reduce home heating fuel use by 10% Reduce garbage by 25°/d Reduce gasoline use by 25% Past participants have saved an average of 209 per year with the top members saving upwards of 500 per year. Some surpassed the five year goals in the very first year! Monitor usage at regular intervals for current and past participants (if they choose) ~ Target local businesses to offer discounts to Project Conserve members. (i.e. Home Depot & Menards) Costs of energy are ever increasing. Costs of conservation are almost zero. This is a compelling message going forward. 4 "Make the most of "Make conscious what you have." decisions about use." River CAN help its ORE with L "Don't burden future generations." Takes staff time (building inspectors, utility workers, educators, etc.) ~ Program expenditures (mailings, tools, literature, trainings, advertising) Charge participants a small fee for energy audits (fee can be reduced by attending workshops) ~. Potential for low-turnout without full city support. i Protecting the public Gaining recognition Conserving natural resources Saving residents money Expanding knowledge base Developing strong partnerships Positively affecting the entire community ~+ 5 ~.~ Radon • „ ,. _ •:• Provided free radon test kits to those that received energy audits r~' `~g ~' ~ •:• Some found that they ~ had unsafe levels of radon! ^~ ~ _°• ~_ • One homeowner found a ~ ~~ over 25 pCl/L! ~': • 2010 Government "Bright Idea' - THE BEST OF PHASE 1 33.2% 32.1% 30% 25.2% 29.7% 23% 23.0% 29.3% 19% 22.0% 24.6% 17% 21.6% 22.4% 14% 18.8% 22.3% 14% 17.9% 21.1% 11% 17.8% 19.2% 9% 17.5% 17.9% 8% 17.0% 15.9% 8% 7 SA VING RESIDENT S MONEY 31 households collectively conserved 49,611 kWhs and 979 therms of natural has over the first year. Water use decreased by 355.000 allons. ^This equals a total savings of 6 479. ^Almost 30.OOOIbs of carbon dioxide were prevented from entering the atmosphere. SAVING RESIDENT S MONEY ^ Average electrical savings was 1,600 kWhs (31 houses) ^ Average water savings was 13,654 gallons (26 houses) ^ Average natural eas savings was 35 therms (2s houses) ^This means that the average total savings = 8209 ^Ten participants saved over $300 in the first year They completed 100 Project Conserve energy audits in 2010-2011 season. Other trainings (i.e. business audits) can offer new avenues to our auditors and to City services. • The building inspectors and utility workers have greatly enjoyed taking on this new challenge. They can bring this newfound expertise to every building inspection and every interaction with the citizens, offering even better service than before. 8 OSITIVELY AFF ECTING THE COMMU NIT truly serving tG~e people. ,~„ r , . f Project Conserve directly protects the natural beauty abounding around us, promotes the active lifestyle we all wish to lead, and encourages the innovation that drives us to succeed. Government at its best.