HomeMy WebLinkAboutMay 27
Environmental Initiatives Committee
Special Meeting Minutes DATE: Thursday, May 27, 2010
TIME: 7:30 PM
LOCATION: Parks & Recreation Building,
26379 Fremont Road, Los Altos Hills
1. Roll Call
Attendees: Kunjan Shah, Peter Evans (chair), Raj Reddy
Community Members: Rick Weiss, Steve Schmidt
2. Approval of Minutes
3. Reports - LAH Design Guidelines, Proposition 16, GHG Inventory Update
Proposal, BACC, BACPTF 5/13 Meeting
Steve Schmidt reported that he attended the BACPTF meeting on 5/13. This group is
affiliated somehow with Joint Venture Silicon Valley and consists of other local towns
and cities involved with energy efficiency initiatives generally funded through CEC
grants. They are also interested in a common approach to GHG inventories, and will meet
on this in September.
4. Town Picnic
The EIC will again present a display of electric vehicles that are town residents’ “daily
drivers.” We will have signups for the Green@Home/High Energy Home program, but
don’t really need to solicit participation yet.
5. LAH Green Building ordinance:
Kunjan Shah presented some findings regarding green building and possibilities for
further consideration:
• CALGreen, the state’s Green Building Standards Code, may replace LEED and
Build It Green.
• Kunjan presented an inventory of the types and numbers of existing home projects
(building permits) in LAH during 2008, 2009, and 2010 to date. “Existing home”
projects include a mix of additions (new square footage), remodels (existing
footprint), and additions & remodels, as well as pool/spa projects and
electrica/mechanical/plumbing projects.
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.
• Build It Green for Existing Homes really focuses on the materials and
construction practices embodied in the new work. There is no attempt to address
the energy efficiency of the unaffected portions or the remodeled building overall.
• HVAC systems designed to the ACCA manual should function better and save
energy through properly-sized equipment and ducts. This is a potential benefit to
homeowners.
• Even a well-designed HVAC system can function poorly if not installed properly.
In a remodel or addition new equipment and ducting must be tied in properly and
the remaining original ducting and equipment must be in good shape.
• Opportunities:
o More green points for new homes (we require 50 presently; 128 points is
“easy” to achieve)
o More green points required for homes over a certain size
o More mandatory measures
o HVAC design to ACCA manual documented and field verified
o Blower door test result documentation
o Pool pump sizing documentation
o Deconstruction bonus
o Smart irrigation controllers (possible element of AB1881 ordinance)
o Solar-power for water features
o Efficient septic system guidance
• Issues:
o Can the town modify Build It Green requirements for its own purposes,
e.g., make certain measures mandatory or assign different point values?
o What would a requirement of HVAC design in compliance with the
ACCA Manual cost?
o What are the likely energy savings, and the ROI of such a requirement?
o Should we focus on more verification rather than stiffer requirements?
o Should we focus on the remaining building rather than Build It Green
points in the addition/remodel?
6. Domestic Solar Hot Water Heating
Peter Evans reported that Kit Gordon, a Los Altos Hills resident, is interested in working
with the committee to develop a brochure on solar domestic hot water heating
alternatives.
7. Acterra/High Energy Homes assessment program/partnership update
8. Public Comment
9. Adjournment