HomeMy WebLinkAboutFebruary 15
Environmental Initiatives Committee
Meeting Minutes DATE: Monday, February 15, 2010
TIME: 7:30 PM
LOCATION: Parks & Recreation Building,
26379 Fremont Road, Los Altos Hills
1. Roll Call
Attendees: Peter Evans, Kujan Shah, Raj Reddy
Members of the Public: Steve Schmidt, Rick Weiss
2. Approval of Minutes
3. WWB energy improvements; monitoring system
4. LAH Green Building ordinance
The committee discussed possible changes to the town’s green building ordinance:
• Increase the basic requirement for new homes to 75 points. The committee discussed the merits of
translating this Green Point total to some indicator that could be used to benchmark energy
performance of existing homes.
• Extend applicability to remodels:
o How does the GreenPoint Existing Home program for remodels work? Could we build on
this? Steve Schmidt said he thinks Atherton may have adopted the GreenPoint Existing
Home approach.
o How does Title 24 presently apply to remodels? What is the trigger for applicability?
o Instead of applying GreenPoint requirements for just the remodel itself, what about
requiring an audit of the entire building, with the implementation of very short payback
(self-funding) measures required as part of the remodel project? What would be the cost
of the audit? Could the town rebate the audit cost?
• Energy disclosure on sale
o Is a HERS rating or on-site energy audit reasonable? What would it cost?
o What has been the experience where energy disclosure on sale is required, e.g. in Austin,
TX?
5. Anti-AB32 initiative
6. EV-ready Building Forum
7. Community Choice Aggregation
NOTICE TO PUBLIC
Any writings or documents provided to a majority of the Environmental Initiatives Committee regarding any
item on this agenda will be made available for public inspection in the City Clerk’s office located at Town
Hall, 26379 Fremont Road, Los Altos Hills, California during normal business hours.
Marin County is pursuing community choice aggregation; this will allow residents to purchase electricity at
wholesale, including possibly 100% renewable-sourced supplies. The committee expressed interest in this
for its potential applicability in Los Altos Hills, as competition and given that greater use of retail
renewable power is one of the elements of the town’s GHG reduction goals.
8. Acterra/High Energy Homes assessment program/partnership update
Steve Schmidt provided an update. The town’s application under the EECBG program is still pending
before the CEC. The High Energy Home/Acterra program is also included in a Santa Clara County
proposal for funding under the state SEP program. Atherton has prepared a video that they are broadcasting
on their local cable TV channel and on YouTube. Steve and Acterra are presently committed to appear at
the Woodside and Portola Valley Earth Day celebrations on April 18.
9. Public Comment
10. Adjournment