Plymouth Area Renewable Energy Initiative (PAREI)

1. Plymouth Area Renewable Energy Initiative (PAREI) • Get Energized! • Plan now for your energy future!

2. Plymouth Area Renewable Energy Initiative (PAREI) • Organized in 2004 to encourage energy conservation, energy efficiency practices and promote the use of renewable energy in homes, businesses and other buildings in the Plymouth region due to concerns about the peaking of world oil supplies. • Pragmatic approach by encouraging people to prepare for their energy future as they would their financial future.

3. Plymouth Area Renewable Energy Initiative (PAREI) • Approximately 130 family and business members • 2 part time staff • 6 person Board; 4 have installed solar hot water in last 1.5 years • www.plymouthenergy.org

4. PAREI Goals • Reduce barriers to the use of renewable energy by providing education & assistance to help members plan their energy futures. • Reduce costs of renewable energy & energy efficiency products by negotiating with manufacturers, retailers & trades people. Offer products directly to members at a discount (plumbing supplies, solar water heating systems)

5. PAREI Goals • Reduce the installation costs of renewable energy by using a neighbor helping neighbor approach and partnering with local trades people. • Help members practice energy conservation using the initiative’s energy assessment & action planning process.

6. PAREI Methods The 5 E’s: • Energy Raisers • Energy Exchanges • Energy Assessment Planning Sessions • Energy Advisors • Educational Events • Plus Consulting Services linking members with professional services

7. PAREI Energy Raisers • Modeled after “barn-raising” & tradition of neighbor helping neighbor. • Helps bring down installation costs & educate homeowners about how system works. • So far: 14 volunteer Energy Raisers; 11 solar hot water/thermal, 2 solar photovoltaic and 1 windmill.

8. PAREI Energy Raisers • “The process includes the homeowner every step of the way so when your system is installed you understand how it works & how it benefits you, the environment & your pocketbook.” Energy Raiser Participant Paul Yelle

9. PAREI Energy Exchanges • Began as informal monthly discussions for 1-2 hours on energy topics. • Group discussion, networking, sharing information. • Often combined with pot luck supper. • Helps increase knowledge & build community. • Introduces people to PAREI.

10. PAREI Energy Assessment Planning Sessions • Available to members. • PAREI staff & volunteers visit member’s home & do introductory level energy assessment. • Assess solar exposure. • Helps increase knowledge & build community.

11. PAREI Energy Advisors • Linking homeowners in need of information with volunteers that possess an expertise in specific energy issues • Volunteer Energy Advisors will meet with people one-on-one. A comfortable way for people to learn (not a sales call). • Identifies the resources available in our community. • Taps into a local knowledge base so our community is better positioned to face the uncertain energy future.

12. PAREI Educational Events • Co-sponsor of educational talks, films, presentations. • Public education on Federal Solar Tax Credit. • Lectures: Heinberg, • Panel Discussions • On-Site SHW Info Sessions • Film: Inconvenient Truth.

13. Local Foods Plymouth (LFP) • Reducing the miles our food travels. • Partnership between PAREI & D Acres of NH, an organic farm & educational homestead • Small Grants provided by USDA Rural Development and NH Dept of AG, Markets and Foods • Originated from Energy Exchange discussion. • Choosing local food is another way we can all help to cut down on our overall energy usage.

14. Local Foods Plymouth • A virtual marketplace to purchase food products grown locally in Plymouth, NH area. • Produce, meat, eggs, dairy, baked goods, flowers, etc. • Ordering takes place on -line once a week (Mon - Tues). Orders picked up at Plymouth Farmer’s Market on Thursday afternoons.

16. Local Foods Plymouth • 2006 Project brought $6,500 to local farmers primarily from first time buyers • 2006 Results = 12 farmers and 75 buyers, • 2007 goal = 20 farmers and 200 buyers (including two restaurants – menu setting) • Local defined as <30 miles • Value Added Goods – main ingredient must be sourced locally • Survey showed, people prefer having their $ staying in local economy and want to conserve energy by the way they buy food. • Brochure and 2006 Summary Report are available on PAREI home page

17. Energy Innovation • We’re acting on our ideas. Not taking the “They’ll come up with something” approach. • Keeping our mission narrow, focused and productive. • We’re creating an avenue for others to act on their natural desire to want to join together and build a better community. • Tapping into the common ways that motivate people to act – simply providing fun and productive activities for people that share the same concerns. • Identifying and addressing the root problem - Whether a person’s primary concern is peak oil or global warming both issues benefit from the results of acting on energy conservation and renewable energy goals. • Encouraging the creation of a plan. • Organic Organization.