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Institute for Sustainable Energy Board of Advisors
Board Meeting: January 7, 2008
Members present: Bob Wall, Director, Energy Market Initiatives, Connecticut Clean Energy Fund Shirley Bergert, Public Benefits Taskforce Director, CT Legal Services John Mengacci, Undersecretary, Policy Development & Planning Division, OPM Donald Downes, Chairman, DPUC Sean West, EH&S Project Manager, United Technologies
Staff: William Leahy, Director of Operations, ISE Laurel Kohl, ISE, Acting Secretary
The meeting was called to order by Don Downes at 10:10am.
The minutes of the October 1, 2007 ISE Board of Advisors meeting were presented. A motion was made by Shirley Bergert and seconded by John Mengacci to accept the minutes. The motion carried.
New Members to the Board Leahy reminded the board of the changes to the board’s make-up expanding the board by two positions. Rich Steeves was added representing ECMB (Rich was unable to attend today’s meeting). A second member, nominated by the Director of ISE was to be added representing the business community. Leahy introduced Sean West, the Environmental Health and Safety Program Manager for UTC and recommended he be added to the board to broaden the board perspectives.
A motion was made by Donald Downes to accept Leahy’s nomination of Sean West as a member of the board. The motion was seconded by Shirley Bergert. Motion carried.
2007-08 Projects It was agreed that a more detailed review of the 2007 and 2008 projects and initiatives would take place at the regular February meeting. Highlights of current projects and initiatives were presented;
CT Energy Education has trained more than 100 teachers. Cool It Contest: ISE is administering the Cool It Climate Challenge Contest for students in grades 6-12. The program is in its second year. It is funded by the Tremaine Foundation. Workshops are being held statewide with a major event to be held at Mystic Aquarium in March.
CT Green Campus: All four CSU campuses have signed on to the Presidents’ Climate Challenge to develop energy efficiency plans to reach carbon neutrality by 2050. Only eight campuses in Connecticut have signed the pledge. Four of the state’s community colleges are very interested in working with ISE, including Three Rivers, Gateway, Manchester and Norwalk. Bill Leahy is Eastern’s representative to ACORE (American Council on Renewable Energy) at which 22 universities sit on the National Energy Committee. A 3 day conference is planned in March with heads of state, industry and 500 technology exhibits. ACORE is developing case studies of renewable energy use on university campuses and industry sponsored university research.
Building Code Training: ISE has held four training sessions regionally to review the current energy code with local building inspectors. They also held a fifth session that specifically addressed the use of ComCheck / ResCheck software designed to assess energy code compliance. 23 code officials attended this hands–on computer-based workshop.
HP Green Schools Circuit Rider: ISE has a contract to do outreach for CT K-12 schools to ensure that superintendents and boards of education are aware of new legislation mandating all new school, renovation and additions are built to LEED Silver “like” standards.
CT Biofuel Legislature: ISE was awarded a grant to do Biofuel Outreach, including the development a website, outreach to fleet vehicle operators to encourage use of biodiesel, and an assessment of the amount, value and sources of yellow grease in the state. This value of waste vegetable oil has gone from $.60/gal to $1.30/gal over the past 2 years. Biofuel manufacturers may need a fixed supply of waste grease to support their production over 12 months. The DEP Air Quality division has interest in biofuels, because it reduces SO2 and particulates in the air but may increases NOx emissions in summer.
Benchmarking: ISE is completing the benchmarking of CT Department of Corrections facilities.
20% by 2020: ISE is surveying state agencies on their current use of renewable energy sources to establish a base year amount to support the governor’s goal of 20% renewable energy in state buildings by 2020. The survey will help with developing in-state case studies of renewable applications. The survey has identified examples in solar, alternative fuels and geothermal. Rep. Terry Backer is supporting an increase in Project 150 to place more DG in the state. We now have 2 more E85 state filling stations.
New Business State Energy Outreach Docket: $5 million has been earmarked by the legislature for energy outreach and awareness programs. Different customer segments have been identified, including residential, small business, agriculture, manufacturing, hospitals, schools and Universities. RFPs will be released by the DPUC to address different energy awareness needs. A public hearing will be held on 1/8/08 with the final decision on the Docket following.
It was reported by Shirley Bergert the ICPA has hosted a Fuel Oil Conservation program web site. They are still working on the oversight and structure of the oil conservation programs.
1-877 WISE USE number: CTEnergyInfo.org is receiving 2500 visitors a month. 10,000 visitors were on the site in July 2007 with the Summer Saver program. Art Marcelynas has requested that ISE answer the questions related to non-electric efficiency from the help line.
ISE has moved to the Eastern’s Campus: ISE relocated to 182 High Street, a house on campus, in December. This will make it easier for student workers to dedicate more hours to the Institute, ISE to work more closely with the faculty and visitors to find the office.
K-12 School Building Operators Training: ISE is planning 2 pilot courses for School Building Operator training. The programs will be designed to reflect CT energy issues and programs. One course will include schools in the Stamford area, and the other in the Wethersfield area. They will be held one day a month over 6 months and include general information, cost benefit analysis, systems information and incentive programs available to assist districts. As a prerequisite to participation, using EPA’s Portfolio Manager, districts must benchmark their buildings, or update past benchmarking. It is possible that the program could also be adapted and customized to other customer groups, including commercial businesses and hospitals. At this time there will be no charge to participants. A typical BOC course charges $1000 to $1400 per person with an additional $800 for certification. The CT docket allocated $200,000 a year for a two year program. Ongoing costs to participants will be determined in the future.
Green Building: In partnership with CT Clean Energy Fund, CT Green Building Council and OPM, the regulations for building energy efficient schools in CT are in development and will soon be released for public review. Bill Leahy is in contact with about 20 school districts in CT that are at various stages of construction planning. A series of regional workshops are underway, sponsored by the CT GBC, to discuss the standards. The first was held in New Haven in November with 100 in attendance. Others include New Canaan in December, Eastern Connecticut State Universities and CBIA Jan 31 followed by one at Connecticut College on Feb 13. The workshops include an explanation of the law, discussion by architects and design professionals of the design process, and resources available to towns provided by Leahy.
The board approved the meeting schedule for 2008 with all meetings planned for the CHFA, Connecticut Room 999 West Street, Rocky Hill, CT 06067 for 10:00 am to 12:00 noon.
Regular Meetings Optional Meeting Dates
January 7, 2008 February 4, 2008 March 4, 2008 April 7, 2008 May 5, 2008 June 2, 2008 July 7, 2008 August 4, 2008 September 8, 2008 October 6, 2008 November 3, 2008 December 1, 2008
Optional meeting dates are reserved in the event of a need for meeting rescheduling or for emergency sessions. A motion was made by John Mengacci, and seconded by Shirley Bergert to accept the meeting calendar. Motion carried.
Leahy asked that at the next meeting of the ISE the board there be a review the Institute’s mission statement and core activities.
Next meeting of the ISE Board will be held on Monday, February 4, 2008.
A motion was made by John Mengacci, and seconded by Sean West to adjourn. Motion carried at 12:06 pm.
Respectfully submitted, Laurel Kohl Acting Secretary
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