HomeMy WebLinkAboutNovember 12
Environmental Initiatives Committee
Minutes DATE: Monday, November 12, 2007
TIME: 7:30pm
LOCATION: 26379 Fremont Road
Los Altos Hills
1. Roll Call: The following were present: Breene Kerr, John Harpootlian, Ian Ernest,
Raj Reddy, Mark Jensen & Jay Shideler
2. Energy Conservation:
• Solar Energy Regulations and Ordinances (Ian, Raj and Peter): The city of Los
Altos is adopting a requirement that all new developments meet or exceed energy
consumption of better than 15% compared to Title 24. This is similar to what
LAH had considered last year but was dropped. Bring up to the Council again –
(Breene).
• Town Hall Solar Programs and Installations (Jay): Solar tracker project is
completed and PG&E is currently crediting us according to BPI. Also, a
documentation notebook detailing the tracker installation has been completed and
turned over to the town hall for future reference.
• Solar monitoring (Breene and Jay): First stage of web-based Town Hall solar
monitoring change is completed with power and energy of the solar tracker
broken out separately from that of the fixed solar installation. The next stage of
the web-based changes needs to be initiated – (Jay & Breene).
• Town Hall Energy Efficiency & Consumption (Mark and Walt): Solicit a
professional to assist in “drilling” down and isolating where power is being
consumed and make recommend changes – (Mark and Walt).
• Residential Smart Metering/Energy Simulation (Peter) – no new updates
• Kill-a-Watt Loaner Program (Peter) – no new updates
• Fuel/Miscellaneous Conservation Issues (Jay & Breene) – LAH Garbage
Company has now converted to 80/20 bio diesel for their trucks.
3. Water Conservation:
• Landscape Water & Conservation Guidelines (John): Sue Welch is adding
sections of water conservation to the general plan. John presented a review of
AB-325 (1990) depicting water conservation for R2 and R3 type residences but
not for R1, which represents that for LAH homes. Should we require LAH new
homes to abide by these guidelines? Also, Purrissima Water District has not
approved the two-meter requirement for larger homes with significant landscapes
– Planning Commission needs to send letter to them expressing their viewpoint –
(John). John is moving forward with water guidelines but staying low-keyed
about it and will continue to push the tracking of water usage – (John). Is there a
well on the Town Hall campus? Investigate (Breene).
• Little League Field Ground-water Irrigation (John and Breene) – L.L.F. has
a1950’s irrigation system and is being reviewed for replacement. Also Carl
Cahill is meeting with Cal Tran to resolve water drainage issues, which is
allowing excess water to drain onto the field. A meeting is scheduled Dec. 13 to
review water conservation on the L.L.F. (John).
4. Refuse and Recycling:
• Single Stream Recycling (Jay): no new information
• Refuse/Recycling Contract Renewal (Jay and Breene): Breene reported that very
few contractors have expressed an interest in bidding so far.
• Recycling/refuse Special Services (Ian) – Ian reported that Santa Clara has these
services.
• Building Recycling Demolition (Ian): Currently, a builder or re-molder is
allowed to start demolition 3 months prior to receiving site permit if and only if
they agree to recycling the debris. However, there is no check and balance as to
how much of even if the debris is recycled. Should the Planning Commission get
involved? (John)
5. Miscellaneous:
• General Plan - see earlier comments on water conservation
• Sudden Oak Death (Jay): Jay reported on latest efforts by Town and other
organizations to combat Sudden Oak Death (S.O.D.). The EIC is concerned that
more needs to be done to protect oak trees under the auspices of the Town. Send
letter of recommendations to the Town Council (Jay).
• LAH Picnic / Special Occasions (?) – No new information
6. Affiliations:
• ABAG Energy Watch (Jay): no new information
• Climate Protection Task Force & ECLEI (Jay): Jay, per the request from Carl
Cahill) sent a recommendation email suggesting that L.A.H. should join the
ECLEI (cost $600/yr) and the Climate Protection Task Force (no cost) but, not opt
out for the $12,000 for analysis of our energy consumption infrastructure.
JAS 11/15/07