Hinesburg Sustainability and Energy Planning Committee

Meeting Notes

January 10, 2007

 

The meeting opened with introductions. Due to the large size of the group, we have decided to form five initial subcommittees who will meet between now and the next Committee meeting to formulate a scope of work and action steps addressing each topic listed below to be considered by the larger Committee. The next Committee meeting will be on February 14th  at 7:00 pm at NRG. Those present indicated their preference for subcommittee work (listed below). Almost the entire group indicated a willingness to assist with the light bulb exchange project.

 

Energy Use Audit

Marty Gray

Rocky Martin  

Hank White

Erol Bayar       

 

Public Relations/Awareness

Renate Park                 Public Relations\Recording

David Fenn                   Resource Library\Bulb Exchange

Scott Brunetto 

Bill Flack                      Also bulbs

 

Transportation

Bob Linck                   

Rachel Smolker           

Richard Watts             

Galan Wilkerson (Gund Institute Resource)            Also interested in definition

 

Bulb Exchange

Wendy Patterson            Also interested in Energy Use Audit

Julie Colangeli            Bulbs/Thermostats

Bill Flack                      Bulbs

David Fenn

 

Sustainability Definition

Stew Pierson               

Kevin Francis               Sustainability Definition

Chuck Riess                 (unable to attend but is interested in Building Design and                                                       Sustainability Definition)

Joe Donegan                Agriculture Sustainability

 

Debra Sachs                 General Resource

Dawn Francis               Overall Coordination and assistance where needed

 

Wendy Patterson had invited Bob Murphy in of Efficiency Vermont to describe services and case studies of communities that had embarked upon energy efficiency and conservation efforts. Mr. Murphy described successful efforts in Poultney, Middlebury, Manchester and Hardwick with various efforts such as light bulb exchange programs, appliance swap out programs, efforts to reduce a community’s energy use by 3 % over a two year period and Middlebury’s efforts to request a $6,500 line item in the Town’s budget based upon an estimate of the carbon emissions savings the group had succeeded in accomplishing. Mr. Murphy described Efficiency Vermont’s services in assisting with the procurement of CFL bulbs by working with Estey Hardware. He also provided a number of brochures and indicated that energy use data from utilities could be obtained for the energy audit.

 

Richard Watts and Rocky Martin described the Town and Karla Munson’s efforts to get public transit service provided by CCTA. Richard indicated that it would cost the town $25,000 per year for a total of four trips per day into Burlington. Richard recommended drafting a letter to the Town Selectboard in support of requesting CCTA to consider providing transit service to Hinesburg. Dawn Francis asked if the Selectboard had already evaluated the issue and if they were supportive of the CCTA service. She wondered if we should first understand the cost of the service to the tax payers and the level of use that it would receive, particularly if there is already a private operator providing some transit service. Many of the group did not realize that there was a private service available and wondered if something could be done to better publicize its availability. Scott Brunetto  recalled a discussion at our previous meeting that our group should prioritize its efforts on actions such as the light bulb exchange to boost the credibility of our Committee. The group was supportive of looking into the potential of CCTA and the Transportation Subcommittee will do some more research on what had been done to date by Karla Munson and the Selectboard on this issue as well as find out more about the private transit service.  A draft letter to the Selectboard could then be reviewed by the larger group (this can be done via email).

 

David Fenn reported that the library staff was willing to provide space for the resources we have collected to date. We have a large binder of information entitled, “Climate Actions in Energy Efficiency, Waste, Transportation, Health and Sustainability – A Resource Guide” provided by Deb Sachs of the 10 % Challenge organization.

 

Some limited time was spent trying to flesh out what “Sustainability” means with respect to the scope of this Committee. The following ideas were offered:

Look 10-15 years out as well as long term

Economy, Environment and Equity

Buy local

Promote local businesses and jobs versus residential development

Raise the Conscience of the town

Education and awareness

Water Quality and Availability

Pollution

Population control

Vermont Environmental Education Program is available to help

Various ages involved, young and old

Prioritize our efforts based upon the most resources used

Reduce and reuse versus recycle

Use of available technology by taking steps in the right direction

Conservation

Sustainability of other species and ecological footprint

Hinesburg farmers consider a sequester program that would negate 500 tons of carbon emissions

The goal is for the future to look as good as it is now