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HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-01- 16 BCP Meeting Minutes PacketBOZEMAN CLIMATE PARTNERS MEETING MINUTES DECEMBER 01, 2016 A. CALL MEETING TO ORDER The rescheduled meeting of the Bozeman Climate Partners Working Group was called to order at 2:05 PM on December 01, 2017 in the Gallatin Room of Bozeman City Hall by Natalie Meyer. PRESENT Natalie Meyer, Heather Higinbotham, Kathy Powell, Carson Taylor, Jay Sinnott, Susan Bilo, Dan Perata, Nicola Preston, Marcia Rundle B. CHANGES TO THE AGENDA None. C. PUBLIC COMMENT N. Meyer opened public comment. Kathy Powell shared a Reach Inc. newsletter that included a story about a $40,000 grant provided by NorthWestern Energy for two solar systems installed at Reach’s Willow Townhouses in Bozeman. The system will provide over two-thirds of the electrical energy for the group home. N. Meyer closed public comment. D. MINUTES J. Sinnott noted that C. Taylor’s name was listed twice in the October 22 minutes. He then moved to approve the minutes from October 22 as amended. K. Powell seconded the motion. E. FYI/DISCUSSION I. CITY SUSTAINABILITY UPDATES H. Higinbotham shared that we have 151 households registered for the Energy Smackdown that was launched October 1. This year’s competition includes a Neighborhood Association competition, plus a competition for fraternities and sororities; however the fraternities and sororities are having trouble gaining access to their utility data. In the Bozeman Energy Project, the Loft Spa and Old Main video case studies are wrapping up. The Ridge and Pump & Pack have retrofits underway. The Pecha Kucha event is scheduled for March 1 at the Bozeman Public Library. K. Powell shared that there is an Inter-Neighborhood Council meeting next week and she will encourage the neighbors to get involved. She noted that she is the only person from the University Neighborhood Association currently signed up. The group discussed barriers to signing up and C. Taylor commented that signing up is still somewhat daunting and not simple. He also said that if anyone in the group is presenting at the Pecha Kucha event that he can help connect them with mentors. N.Meyer let the group know that we are working with Montana State on a joint Request for Information from car sharing companies. The goal is to learn more about companies that would be willing to provide service in Bozeman. We ultimately hope to offer car sharing services in downtown Bozeman and at MSU. Offering car sharing may encourage incoming freshmen not to bring a car to campus. The program would be managed by WTI under their Transportation Demand Management contract with MSU and the City. J. Sinnott noted that there have been advertisements for a free shuttle to campus on the news and in the Chronicle. More of these services are needed. The solar project is complete and implementation of the metering study is underway. NorthWestern mailed out 700 letters inviting businesses and residents in participate in the study. Volunteers for the 40 residential meters were found quickly. They also have nearly all of the 20 business needed for the study. M. Rundle asked about the goals and S.Bilo asked if the project goals have been publicly articulated. N. Meyer explained that the broad goal is to collect data comparing the generation profile of the solar array with the usage patterns from a sample of Bozeman residents and businesses. Participants with the advanced meters will have 5-minute interval metering data available to generate the usage profile. One purpose for the data is to help create a rate model for community solar with the PSC. There were two public presentations on project goals in front of the City Commission and NorthWestern shared another presentation during our sustainability series workshop. The website that is under development will also articulate the research goals. N. Meyer also shared that the Greenhouse Gas Emissions inventory is still underway. She has not yet received the necessary data from NorthWestern, but we have a meeting scheduled to discuss a MOU. The original request was submitted in August, at this point, Meyer is considering completing the inventory for 2016 instead of 2015. J. Sinnott thought that fresh data would be better. 2. GUIDELINES FOR RESILIENCE Joan Montagne was planning to share information from a climate group based in Whitefish, but she was not present for the meeting. The agenda item would be deferred until the next meeting. 3. CITY SUSTAINABLE BUILDING STANDARD SUBCOMMITTEE UPDATE N. Meyer explained that there were potentially two subcommittee groups that would convene in November: the L&J Center Sustainability Subcommittee and the City Sustainable Building Standard Subcommittee. With the failed L&J bond, there was no immediate need for the first subcommittee. C. Taylor reviewed the results of the bond measure and noted that he received at least one comment from a voter that they voted against the bond because they didn’t see solar PV on the building. He explained that it is hard to strike the right balance in communicating sustainability with two very different voting demographics in the City and the County. N. Preston expressed that her peers in their 20s never heard about the bond measure. C.Taylor added that some younger voters even received false information about the cost of the bond for the average household. J. Sinnott noted that the Chronicle Police Reports section makes Bozeman seem like Mayberry and people do not feel that law enforcement requires a new facility for the community to remain safe. S. Bilo asked about reuse of the existing building and C. Taylor explained that several assessments were completed and it would cost too much to bring the building (an old private high school) up to code and it was cheaper to re-build. She also asked if there might be an opportunity to better communicate how a high-performance building would lower long-term costs for tax payers. C. Taylor reiterated that the push was to frame it in the best way possible to get the County to support it and get the bond passed. N.Meyer went on to summarize the City Sustainable Building Standard Subcommittee meeting attended by S. Bilo, J.Sinnott, H. Higinbotham, and N. Meyer. The group discussed existing sustainable building standards or programs that have been used by other communities: LEED, LEED + Energy Goal, Net Zero Energy Ready, Passive House Institute, International Green Construction Code, Green Globes, Living Building Challenge, and the MT State High Performance Building Standard. The group identified several key elements that would be important to include in any standard: 1) design-build procurement, 2) setting a measureable energy goal, 3) whole building energy modeling to advise design, 4) focus on energy performance, but still holistically sustainable. S. Bilo added 5) commissioning, and 6) 3rd party certification. N. Meyer explained that her goal is to pursue the Sustainable Building Standard as a single initiative, but wanted to present it as part of a larger strategy that supports high performance buildings and Net Zero Energy. Potential policies are outlined in the attached LOW CARBON BUILT ENVIRONMENT, section III-V (dated 12/1/16). For consistency, N. Meyer suggested that the City Sustainability Standard should mirror the standard that we identify in a stretch code for private development, which has yet to be developed. S. Bilo felt that the city should demonstrate more leadership in the City Sustainability Standard. Noting that the stretch code will likely be a minor incremental improvement. She asked about the status of the state-wide stretch code committee. H. Higinbotham said they are waiting to consult with Bozeman for feedback on the standard and possible incentives. This meeting has not occurred because Bozeman has a new Community Development Director and is in a period of transition. The stretch code policy requires support from the City Building Division and the Community Development Director. N. Meyer is working on organizing an initial meeting concerning the City Sustainability Standard. The group debated the merits of proposing a Net Zero Energy Ready City Sustainable Building Standard versus using a step-wise policy approach that incrementally moves us in that direction. One of the steps identified by the subcommittee would be to gather stakeholders for a conversation focused on the Sustainable Building Standard. This should initially include architects, builders/contractors, engineers, and the CoB Building Division, and affordable housing advocates to exchange ideas and better understand constraints. Meyer cannot start this community conversation without first consulting with the new Community Development Director. S.Bilo commented that guidance and education around the process of Net Zero Energy Ready would be needed. C. Taylor mentioned that this work should be tied into and supported by the City’s Strategic Plan. The group discussed whether or not the public comment supported this type of policy. N. Meyer didn’t know if that was clear and said she would follow-up with the consultants. J. Sinnott said that it would be important for the City Commission to re-affirm it’s commitment under the Climate Action Plan. N. Meyer thought there would be several upcoming opportunities for that with the new emissions inventory and C. Taylor signing the Compact of Mayors. J. Sinnott also suggested that we should recognize “climate-friendly” developments as part of the high performance building policy strategy. 4) 2017 LEGISLATIVE AGENDA N. Meyer showed the group how to navigate to bill drafts on the http://leg.mt.gov/ website. The Energy & Telecommunications Interim Committee page has several bill drafts posted and dozens of placeholders. Among these, there is a bill to raise the net-metering cap from 50KW to 250KW for government buildings. There is a bill that would grandfather in existing net-metering customers at the retail rate. There is also a draft PACE bill. These are all bills the City will likely support. Meyer will try to keep the group informed as the session gets underway in January. K.Powell asked how a PACE loan might impact a homeowner’s ability to sell their house and if the seller would get stuck with the bill. Meyer thought this would be negotiable. The seller could point out that the monthly loan payment is set at a rate that is lower than the monthly savings realized through the energy retrofit, thus the buyer will enjoy the benefits of the retrofit. H. UPCOMING EVENTS K.Walser with CCL is sponsoring a screening of Before the Flood tonight at 6pm at the Pilgrim Congregational United Church. I. NEXT MEETING The regular December 22, 2016 meeting will be canceled due to the holidays. The next regular meeting will be January 26, 2017. Adjournment: 3:40pm Minutes submitted by: Natalie Meyer Low Carbon Built Environment Sustainable Building Standards Subcommittee 12/1/2016 I. Review of Potential Standards a. LEED, LEED + Energy Goal, NZE-Ready, Passive House Institute, IGCC, Green Globes II. Key Elements of a Standard a. Design-Build procurement strategy b. Setting a measurable energy goal (EUI, ZEPI, HERS Rating, ACH) c. Whole building energy modeling d. Focus on energy, but still holistic III. Steps to Achieving Net Zero Energy Policies a. Develop a Building Energy Codes Roadmap with Steps to NZE by 2030 or 80x50 b. Benchmarking and Disclosure Policies i. Local Government Disclosure ii. Bzmn Energy Project Businesses (voluntary) iii. Benchmarking disclosure requirement for buildings over 30k SF c. Set sustainable building code or goal for city-owned buildings. d. Develop stretch code (step code) for private sector. i. Corresponds with city-owned building standard ii. Must be voluntary with an incentive iii. Identify a meaningful incentive 1. Ex: Impact fee reduction, fast-track approval, partner with utility on incentives? iv. Offer training and outreach IV. Promote/Incentivize Improved Appliance Standards to reduce energy use that falls outside of building code V. Addressing Existing Building Stock a. PACE b. Education/Outreach c. Voluntary Programs VI. Key Stakeholders a. City of Bozeman Building Division, Community Development Director, Commissioners, City Administration b. Architects, must include those familiar with NZE c. Builders/Contractors, must include those familiar with NZE d. Engineering Firms e. Affordable Housing Advocates f. Utility g. State DEQ and other energy advocates