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Alachua County Energy conservation strategies commission Recommendation – APRIL 21, 2008. Alachua County Commission.
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Alachua County Energy conservation strategies commission Recommendation – APRIL 21, 2008
Alachua County Commission “…wants to do its part to reduce or mitigate the effects of Global Climate Change and promote the long-term economic security of its citizens through the implementation of policies that enhance energy efficiency…” Resolution 07-18,March 27, 2007
Energy Conservation Strategies Commission Mission “To draft a comprehensive report on energy use, its relationship to climate change and local socio-economic impacts, including actions that can be implemented by the Board of County Commissioners and the community at large.” 100-year timeframe
United States Oil Imports This chart depicts the sources of American oil imports. While the United States gets about 45% of its oil from the Middle East and North Africa, these regions hold over two thirds of the oil reserves worldwide.” Driving the Future of Energy Security http://lugar.senate.gov/energy/graphs/oilimport.html
Ripple effects-escalating energy costs • Cost of oil (gasoline) Apr 2001: $22.86/barrel Feb 2001 $1.54/gallon gas Apr 2008: $101.22/barrel Feb 2001 $3.08/gallon gas • Monthly Cost of Food for a Family of 4 Feb 2001: $599 Feb 2008: $771 • Average residential retail price of electricity 2001: 8.63 cents/kWh 2007: 10.61 cents/kWh 100% 29% 23%
Community OpportunitiesCreate an resource efficient and resilient community Guiding Principles for Energy Use • First, practice conservation (reduce consumption). • Second, weatherize building envelopes and upgrade mechanical equipment & appliances. • Third, invest in renewable power generation (GO SOLAR).
Community OpportunitiesCreate an resource efficient and resilient community • Implement a county-wide weatherization & energy efficiency upgrade program. • Create community employment opportunities & grow new local businesses (“relocalization”). Develop local economy based on low-energy consumption.
Community OpportunitiesCreate an resource efficient and resilient community • Develop sustainable mobility infrastructure (focus on public transportation.) • Maximize local food production. • Maximize local, non-fossil fuel based energy production (GO SOLAR).
Community Opportunities McKinsey & Company Report, December 2007 ECONOMIC SECURITY & COMMUNITY EMPLOYMENT • “Reducing US Greenhouse Gas Emissions: How Much at What Cost? US Greenhouse Gas Abatement Mapping Initiative.” • The Conference Board & 7 leading global institutions (DTE Energy; Environmental Defense; Honeywell; NationalGrid; Natural Resources Defense Council; Pacific Gas & Electric; Shell)
Community Opportunities McKinsey & Company Report, December 2007 #1 Low-cost option to reduce greenhouse gases “Improving energy efficiency in the buildings and appliances and industrial sectors could offset some 85% of projected incremental demand for electricity in 2030, largely negating the need for new coal-fired electric power plants.” (p. xiv) http://www.mckinsey.com/clientservice/ccsi/pdf/US_ghg_final_report.pdf
Community Opportunities McKinsey & Company Report, December 2007 #1 Low-cost option to reduce greenhouse gases Building efficiencies include: • lighting retrofits; • improved HVAC systems, building envelopes and building control systems; and • higher performance for consumer office electronics and appliances.
Community OpportunitiesWeatherization & energy efficiency upgrade program • 90% of structures in Alachua County built prior to 1999. • 1993 - Minimum energy standards for new construction 1st adopted. • Expect significant energy efficiencies from upgrades to all building envelopes, mechanical systems and appliances.
Community OpportunitiesWeatherization & energy efficiency upgrade program • Create community weatherization/efficiency upgrade ‘bank’. • Financing mechanism similar to County road special assessment. Immediate source could be unused S.H.I.P. funds. • Property owners could access this ‘bank’ for loans for efficiency upgrades after specific requirements have been met. Loan would attach as lien to property, up to 20-30 years.
Community OpportunitiesWeatherization & energy efficiency upgrade program Some Typical Examples: • Add insulation where needed. • Replace single-pane windows with energy efficient windows. • Replace old refrigerators with new Energy Star appliances. • Replace inefficient water heaters. • Upgrade HVAC systems with smaller, more efficient units.
Community OpportunitiesWeatherization & energy efficiency upgrade program Some Typical Examples: • Upgrade duct system. Florida Energy Office states that duct leaks in Florida can increase total energy use (cooling and heating) by about 33%. • Weatherize low-income homes (owner-occupied). • Add solar water heaters to homes and businesses. • Add Photovoltaic (PV) systems to homes and businesses.
Community OpportunitiesWeatherization & energy efficiency upgrade program • To “weatherize” all substandard housing in the county, nearly 1500 houses need to be upgraded each year for the next ten years. Current combined efforts reach approximately 100 houses per year. • Partner with local nonprofit groups that provide energy conservation, renewable energy systems and/or weatherization activities. • Use County purchasing power to help provide materials to be used by groups for “weatherization” activities in low-income areas. Combine this effort with an education program to prevent reworking same houses every five years.
Community Opportunities Maximize local, renewable energy production (GO SOLAR) • Reduce dependence on imported energy and fossil fuels, provide opportunities for economic and community development, and benefit the quality of the environment. • Guarantee solar access to as many parcels of land as practical (for solar thermal & solar PV). • Integrate solar panels in streetscapes & buildings. • Ground-source heat pumps.
Energy Conservation Strategies CommissionRecommendation: Energy & Economic Security Direct the Manager and his Finance Team to meet with the ECSC and/or relevant ECSC subcommittees to develop, for Commission consideration, potential financing mechanisms to implement energy efficiencies on a massive scale. The ECSC also requests that Alachua County Clerk of Court Buddy Irby participate in development of this financing mechanism.
Contact the ECSC • Email: energy@alachuacounty.us • Phone: Sean McLendon, 352-264-6800 • Address: ECSC, 201 SE 2nd St., Suite 201, Gainesville, FL 32601 • ECSC meetings: 1st and 3rd Mondays of the month at 5:30 PM - County Administration Building, Second Floor, Grace Knight Conference Room. • ECSC subcommittee meetings: Weekly on Tuesday & Wednesday (call for details.)