BuildSmart Meeting 1-6-2010

Meeting Minutes BuildSmart Technical Advisory committee

January 6, 2010 Old County Courthouse 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm

Present: David Lister, Joe Marx, Tim Carter, Brian Poster, Pete Schwartz, Don Nurge, Bruce Tidwell, Tom Harned, Rick Stark, Shana Sweitzer, Seth Westbrook

Bruce Tidwell makes motion to adopt minutes from December 16^th meeting. Brian Poster seconds the motion. Unanimous vote to adopt minutes.
Discuss Hailey Green Building and Development Committee presentation to BSTAC on January 20, 2010.

- Not ready to compare proposals.
- Can they send us their recommendation and we can provide feedback?
- Look to compare notes in February.

3. David Neiger's input on the two HERS recommendations for existing buildings.

- Rick Stark's formula is very similar to what the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) (http://www.nrel.gov/buildings/) proposed and is one of two ways Boulder County is looking to modify their current system for improving existing structures; however Boulder is looking to improve beyond 30%. They are trying to get all homes to perform at a HERS 60 or better.
- He believes this formula is the most simple, fair, and quantifiable way to improve existing structures.
- You cannot do a HERS score on a part of the home. The whole HERS systems is set up to look at the performance of a structure as a whole, consequently Alan's proposal will not reach the goal of 30% improvement.
- He will send me the NREL calculator. Keep it confidential, they are still fine tuning it for a possible national proposal.
- Boulder County is also looking to create a prescriptive path. The Boulder Building Department believes the performance path is much simpler and equitable; however the building community wanted a prescriptive path. He believes the building community is wary of the performance path for existing structures because the last HERS construct for existing structures was confusing and cumbersome and they did not want to pay for two HERS scores, even though the cost is minimal for the second HERS score due to the model being created for the existing structure.
- Boulder County building official will send me the prescriptive actions proposed after their Board approves them; most likely by the end of February.

Consideration of HERS proposals for existing structures.

Rick Stark proposal

Comments

Easy to achieve
Straight forward
Fair and reaches the 30% improvement goal
500 sq ft is a large addition as compared to the average.
We should do a test drive on a older structure that is being renovated; the BigWood Church retrofit? Does the County have money to pay for this?

i. No, but maybe we can get a collaboration of partners to pay for it. Give staff some time to identify funds or partners.

Amendments

1. Improvement threshold is 70 HERS. For example, if someone has an existing structure with a HERS score of 80 they would only need to get to 70, not 56.

2. Only applies to additions 300 sq ft or larger.

MOTION: Adopt Rick Starks HERS formula for improving energy efficiency of existing structures when additions occur, with amendments as discussed. Don Nurge moves to approve, Bruce Tidwell seconds. All in favor (9), none opposed (0), Tom Harned sustained from the vote.

Remodels:

Energy Audits for remodels, no HERS score. Remodels with less than 500 sq ft conduct a self audit. Checklist and self audit for remodels involving roofs.

Recommendation C

Comments:

What specifically did the Commissioners want? Was it mostly focused on energy efficiency improvement? Yes- see below

Vision: To create a green building program--BuildSmart-- that promotes highly energy-efficient buildings in Blaine County and establishes Blaine County as a leader in sustainability and climate protection.

Mission: Recommend to the Board of County Commissioners the structure and components of a green building program that is effective and achievable.

Do we really need a Recommendation C? Adopting a LEED or NAHB is beyond what we are supposed to do.
Cherry picking is a "project", there is so much information and possibilities.
LEED is recognized and provides value to the builders who build to it. Nobody knows NAHB.
Needs to be voluntary. Use grants to incentives or recognize at the building counter.
Need tactics to reach goals.
Cherry pick actions/tactics that are straight foreword and are no-brainers but provide significant value. Easy to identify for the person quantifying (building inspector or other).
Considering Recommendation B identifies ways to reach the energy goal, maybe individuals could take a crack at sample tactics, easily quantified, that will reach goals other than energy related.

HOMEWORK: Review LEED or other guidelines (Boulder, Telluride, etc.) and identify 3-5 tactics that are: easily quantifiable, feasible, and appropriate for Blaine County. Bring these to next meeting for discussion and consideration in a checklist.