HomeMy WebLinkAboutJanuary 21
Environmental Initiatives Committee
Minutes
DATE: Monday, January 21, 2008
TIME: 7:30pm
LOCATION: Parks & Recreation Building
26379 Fremont Road
Los Altos Hills
1. Roll Call: The following were present: Peter Evans, John Harpootlian, Lew Jamison,
Mark Jensen, Breene Kerr, Steve Schmidt, Walt Wilson & Jay Shideler.
2. New members: Steve Schmidt was welcomed as a new member of the EIC.
Membership has been increased to 10 with a meeting-quorum remaining at 5.
3. Energy Conservation:
• Residential promotion of solar in LAH: Solar permits increased from 31 (Yr 06)
to 51 (07) in LAH – a 65% increase Yr. to Yr.. To maintain this pace, permits
would have to increase to 84 in 2008 – a difficult goal considering most of the
eager residents have already applied for permits. Should the Town initiate solar
financing schemes to maintain this ramp-up of solar permits? (Jay & Breene)
• Program to address top 10% LAH energy users: A discussion pursued about how
to address the heavy users of electricity in LAH including a possible emphasis-
reduction away from PV solar to that of conservation of energy. A plan needs to
be initiated to tie related activities together to affect this goal and to benchmark
the “carbon footprint” of LAH residents in general. (All EIC Members)
• Town Hall Solar Trackers – Trackers still display an intermittent problem in
tracking – SolarCity to resolve (Jay).
• Solar website monitoring Second stage of Town Hall website monitoring ongoing
(currently low priority) (Breene and Jay):
• Sustainability in the Hills – scheduled for April 2008 – Send info to Steve and
Lew (Jay). The EIC needs to contribute to these activities (Steve & Lew)
• Solar Energy Regulations and Ordinances: Lower priority (Peter).
• Town Hall Energy Efficiency & Consumption: The committee recommends the
contractor, FSI, to do the analysis and generate a report, not to exceed $7,000.
Contact Carl again to initiate contract (Jay). Contactor, Allen Pong and begin
analysis (Mark & Walt).
• Residential Smart Metering/Energy Simulation: Title 24 expected to be revamped
with Smart Metering included as possible requirements (expected 2nd half of
2008). (Peter).
• Kill-a-Watt Loaner Program: (Peter).
• Pool Pump: Write an article for the LAH Newsletter about proper selection and
usage of pool pumps (Ian).
• “Blower Door” test unit: Device tests residences for air leaks and drafts.
Consider how to use device for LAH residences on demand (Steve).
• LLF Snack Bar Solar: Consider having the LLF Bid Consultant come to the next
EIC meeting (Jay).
• Fuel/Miscellaneous Conservation Issues: Consider using bio-diesel for Town P/U
truck (low priority) (Breene).
3. Water Conservation:
• Landscape Water & Conservation Guidelines: John expressed concern about
mandatory landscaping plants not being watered and maintained to fulfill their
intended screening purpose, or being composed of inappropriately high-water
requirement plants. On a related subject, Sue Welch is making water usage
recommendations changes to the Guideline. (John).
• Mandatory Irrigation Guidelines: Water rates have been raised by up to 61 % for
heavy users (the carrot). Should irrigation guidelines become requirements for
new construction (the stick)? Discussion continuing (John).
• ET Water Program: Ron Lang to write an article for the next LAH Newsletter
about utilizing ET Water’s program for residential landscapes. Also, consider
using this system for the Town Hall campus (John).
• Water-wells on the LAH’s property. Initial report on Town Hall’s water well
indicates too little water flow to be economically feasible. What about the Little
League Field well? Investigate (Breene, Jay).
• Little League Field Ground-water Irrigation–. Has Carl Cahill met with Cal Tran
to resolve the problem of excess water draining onto the field? (Jay)
• AB-1881 – A government sponsored water and irrigation guideline which will be
applicable to all except for R1 residents (SFR’s). Bring into the EIC for review
and possible consideration for LAH R1 residences. (John)
4. Refuse and Recycling:
• Single Stream Recycling (Jay): November data show a slight improvement in
recycling
• Refuse/Recycling Contract Renewal: Apparently, LAH has received two bids –
evaluate and make sure LAH’s interest are adequately being represented (Jay and
Breene)
• Recycling/refuse Special Services: Ian reported that Santa Clara has these
services – any updates? (Ian).
• Building Recycling Demolition: Status needed on check-and-balance as to how
much debris is recycled when builders agree to recycling (John). A Discussion
commenced among the committee members as to whether or not demolition
recycling should be mandatory and whether or not a significant residents backlash
would incur – consider for future evaluation (Breene).
• New LAH home recycled material requirement: What about requiring new
homes to be constructed of some recycled material? Committee expressed
concern about resident backlash. (Ian, Jay, Breene)
5. Miscellaneous:
• EIC Website: Research done of other websites to serve as examples – send out
email(s) of details of model websites and recommended specifics such as how the
website would link to the existing Town website (Lew).
• LAH Picnic / Special Occasions (?) – No new information
• Eucalyptus trees: Mark mentioned that these trees are a substantial CO2 sinks –
wisdom of LAH requirement to remove them needs to be reconsidered. (Mark,
Breene)
6. Affiliations:
• Climate Protection Task Force & ECLEI – verify that LAH Town government
joined both organizations (Jay).
7. Next Meeting: Monday, February 11, 2008 at 7:30PM (place to be announced).
JAS 1/21/08