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5.2. SR 03-08-2010Item #5.2. ~lk~`~ River MEMORANDUM i ®uncil a eb~cca~ up nvlr~nr~~nl n7lnistra®r arc h ~ 414 ° J r~~c~ ®nserve ha~s~ II The first phase of Project Conserve is nearing completion. The last set of meetings have been scheduled for mid~May to finalize the results. Up to this point, the results have been astounding. The participants have shown that it is easy to fnake small lifestyle changes that really make a difference in the amount of electricity, water, natural gas, fuel, and garbage that is consumed by the average homeowner, The average electricity and water reduction has been around I I %. Some of the participants have planted more drought tolerant vegetation because of this program which required mole water this year so their numbers were a bit high and threw off the water reduction percentage, By following those participants through another summer, I'm sure them water use will drop drastically. This program has received a lot of acknowledgement through the League of Minnesota Cities' City of Excellence Award for Sustainability and Energy Use, the Recycling Association of Minnesota's Green Project of the Year Award, and various speaking engagements to discuss the program. There are many communities watching the City of Ells River's Project Conserve program to determine if it can be replicated in their community. This program was set-up to be phased in through the next five years. Since Phase I is nearly complete, Phase TI was launched at the 4r~' Annual Energy Expo. The goal of Phase II is to worl~ with 500 families to educate them on how easy it is to make small lifestyle changes that really make a difference in the amount of electricity, water, natural gas, fuel, and garbage that are consumed by the average homeowner. City staff has been worl~ing with the Elk River Municipal Utilities ~ERMU} to determine the best approach to make this happen. ERMU would life to offer this program to all residents in Elk River city-limits as well as to their customers outside of Ells River city limits in Gtsego and Big Labe Township. This would allow approximately 11,000 families the opportunity to sign-up. Staff has also worl~ed with Connexus Energy to allow theft• customers in Elk River to participate in this program, The City has budgeted $5,000 and ERMU has budgeted $25,000. Staff applied for a X50,000 OES grant and will be notified on March 12 if Project Conserve Phase II was selected fox the grant. Residents outside of the Elk River city limits would be covered under ERMU's contribution. Staff is asl~ing for City Council concurrence on the expansion of Phase I~ of Project Conserve to Elk River Municipal Utility customers in Otsego and Big Lal~e Township. ta~C~~ts ® Proj ect Conserve Phase II application ~~:• .. >;.: ~~ G1~~iTY .;.,.;X~ ~flr ~"...Fyn:~:.c:.~:.tif~f~~%,3'1";i~`.i?~°:~~,'-~~~i.„;:. [;CF ~~~~TR.411h1G ""c plTiV'~R DF EfSG?c~T S ~IV~tiY~'~E T ~~~ APT To be eligible to participate in Project Conserve, you must receive electric service from Elk River 1Vtunicipal Utilities. You also must own your home. Further, you must be serious about giving conservation of resources such as electricity, water, heating fuel and gasoline a ~`y -- we'll show you how if you participate! Customer dame ..dress Phone Number Email 1..~.~e you an electric custonner of Elk River Municipal Utilities? if yes, for hova long at this address? 2. Igo you receive water from either Elk diver Municipal Utilities mu~.cipal water syste~u? 3. How many squaxe feet. of heated live space in your house? ~° what year was your house built? Has it been remodeled or reinsulated? 5. How many people lure in the house ,and do you live in it year~roun.d ? ~° ~o you use electricity or gas to heat your water? circle correct response 7. H®w do you .eat yau~• house m~ natural has, propane, fuel oil, eleetric, or wood circle correct responses ~. o you have central air conditioning? ~, l]o you ha~re any compact uorescents la~~nps installed in your house? ~f yes, haw tunny? 1 ~ .I~o yoi~ have a home computer? f yes, how many? 11. Igo you water your lawn via an undo°cou~d spri~ler system? l2. o you recycle paper, glass, alu~iu.um., Ling c~rga..~cs? ~f yes, circle which ones, 1 . ~ppro~uately how many miles per year do you drive fall vehicles combined? 1 ~~ have you done anything in the last 5 years that greatly decreases the amount of ei.ect~icityg hewing fu.elg water or tra~spartation del that you use? if yesg what? ~5. H'selected t~ participate in the P~~E~T C~NSE~~IE, would you be willi~.g to let others learn ~'rorn. your experience and be willing to share results in a confidential rrianner?