Minutes - Environmental Advisory - November 5, 2008 CITY OF BOULrDER, COLORADO
BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS MEETING SUMMARY
NAME OF BOARD/COMMISSION: Environmental Advisory Board
DATE OF MEETING: November 5, 2008
NAME/TELEPHONE OF PERSON PREPARING SUMMARY: Kelle Karp, 303-441-1940
NAMES OF MEMBERS, STAFF AND INVITED GUESTS PRESENT:
Environmental Advisory Board Members Present: Brian Vickers, Bill Roettker, Francoise
Poinsatte -Chair, and Suzanne Jones
Board Members Absent: Leah Kukowski Martinson
Staff Members Present: Kirk Moors, Planning and Development Services; Jonathan Koehn & Kelle
Karp, Office of Environmental Affairs
Public Present: None
OUTLINE OF AGENDA
1. CALL TO ORDER. The meeting was called to order at 6:10 p.m. by chair Francoise Poinsatte.
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES. Minutes from the October meeting were unanimously approved.
3. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION.
4. UPDATE.
• Jonathan informed the board that he followed up with Mary Louise Chavers regazding her
concerns related to unlicensed pesticide applications in the city. The issue was discussed with
Valerie Matheson, the city's Urban Wildlife Conservation Coordinator, and with
Environmental Enforcement. In the discussion between Jonathan and other city staff there was
an agreement to give this item attention in the spring and make sure there is more of a proactive
effort to provide education and outreach to the community. The board recommended that
outreach be bi-lingual.
• Jonathan has a meeting scheduled with the BVSD district superintendent and key staff to
discuss a sustainability resolution as well as how the city and district can work together on
greater energy efficiency in their facilities. (The meeting is scheduled for Friday, November
14, 2008.)
• Last week council held a study session to discuss Xcel's Smart Grid.
5. MAIN AGENDA ITEMS. Kirk Moors with Planning and Development Services presented the
latest developments of the commercial and residential Green Building code proposals going before
council. A public hearing is scheduled for Monday, November 10, 2008. Kirk presented to the board
in August 2008. Staff updated their recommendations pertaining to the International Energy
Conservation Code (IECC), Green Building and Green Points (GBGP), International Building Code
(IBC) and National Electrical Code (NEC). Kirk focused on the changes made to these codes in his
presentation. Regazding commercial aspects of the IECC, staff added two more recommendations: (1)
that core and shell building may divide the 30% above code requirement between the shell and tenant
finish phases, and (2) that affected areas of remodeled buildings and systems must meet current code
requirements. For the IECC aspects for residential additions and remodels staff recommends that
GBGP requirements be applied to the total squaze footage of the building. Also for residential
additions and remodels, staff recommends that the structure be in compliance using either the Home
Energy Rating Score (HERS) or IECC method. The IECC method would most likely be used in the
case of historic buildings, where insulation and air sealing would be needed to meet the code
requirements. Staff s goal with these recommendations is to keep additions to a reasonable size and
enforce hi er efficiency re uirements for lar er houses (these goals are established from feedback
Approved:
1
Francoise Poinsatte, Chair Date
from the community). Staff also evaluated options for appropriate air sealing levels and is
recommending 0.5 Natural Air Change per Hour (NACH). In closing the presentation, Kirk informed
the board of the dates that these code changes are scheduled to go into effect March 5. Before finishing
the presentation, Kirk also told the board that staff held four public meeting to get community
feedback on these items, and that staff will be going back to council with updates to the GBGP
program next yeaz. At that time, staff may recommend to increase the number of tiers that pertain to
the building's square feet and the corresponding energy efficiency requirements.
In response to the presentation, the board asked for clarification on whether 500 square feet is still the
trigger for additions, what determines when you would use the HERS method versus the IECC method
for additions/remodels, why smaller homes do not have to meet a higher energy efficiency score, what
types of homes have an NACH less than 0.5, what type of outreach is being used to target contractors,
why 20,000 square feet is the trigger for commercial energy efficiency requirements, and if staff is still
revising the code language that they received in their packet. In conclusion, the board supports staff's
recommendations of the new criteria for the city's Green Building codes. Bill Roettker agreed to
represent the boazd at Monday's council meeting, and voice the board's support during public
participation.
Next, Jonathan gave a status report of the Climate Action Plan (CAP) and staff s upcoming study
session with council on Tuesday, November 18, 2008 from 6-9 p.m. To begin, Jonathan informed the
boazd that staff has retooled programs for 2009. Staff hired Econergy (who did the Greenhouse gas
Inventory for the city) and asked them to analyze the programs for 2008 to see how close they will get
to the 2012 goal. Econergy's report indicated that the 2008 programs will not get close to the 2012
target for a variety of reasons, including the fact that programs are currently based on voluntary action
and participation is not mandated through regulations or direct incentives. Staff is confident that the
strategies outlined in the CAP aze sound, but now staff needs to determine which programs are the
right ones to maximize the revenues to get closer to the 2012 goal. An additional reason for changing
programs is that Xcel will be offering similar programs in 20091hat the city currently offers. Staff
may use funding to enhance some of the Xcel programs. Furthermore, staff is committed to
establishing sustainable programs that will continue on a trajectory beyond 2012. Jonathan handed out
wedge charts for the board to see how the suggested changes for 2009 and beyond will get closer to the
2012 goal. The charts are based on actual data from 2007 and 2008, and then projected data to 2012.
The charts reveal that adding a Residential( Commercial Energy Conservation Ordinance
(RECD/CECO) provides a significant advancement towards the 2012 goal. Regarding vehicle
emissions, the chart shows a flat slope with a slight decrease indicating maintenance in that sector.
The wedge charts also reveal that increasing the CAP tax aides in getting closer to the 2012 goal.
What the wedge charts do not show is how emission reductions will be influenced by Xcel's Smart
Grid. Jonathan concluded his report by asking the boazd for their questions and feedback.
In response to the report and wedge charts, the board asked whether other communities are working
with state legislators, whether the Kyoto goal takes into account per capita, if data is based on current
funding levels or projected increases, whether the models take into account lag time, whether we
would have to go back to the voters to increase the CAP tax rates, and whether or not staff can target
specific neighborhoods for going door to door offering energy audits. The board expressed their
support of the proposed changes for 2009, noting that direct incentives will likely complement a
RECO/CECO and that increasing the outreach in the energy audits will likely enhance the outcome of
the program. Finally, the boazd agreed that they should consider being more proactive with the council
members, and find a couple of them that can take the lead on this topic.
Approve r ~
fit, ~.~'L~~ l~ t,1/l,~ t ~ 2 ~ ~ ~
Francoise oinsatte, hair Date