HomeMy WebLinkAboutSeptember 23
Environmental Initiatives Committee
Minutes DATE: Thursday, September 23, 2010
TIME: 7:30 PM
LOCATION: Parks & Recreation Building,
26379 Fremont Road, Los Altos Hills
1. Roll Call
Attendees: Kunjan Shah, Andy Colman, Lew Jamison, Peter Evans (chair)
Guests: Steve Schmidt, Rick Weiss, Waidy Lee
2. Approval of Minutes
The committee voted to amend the agenda to consider a potential recommendation for a formal
town position on Proposition 23.
3. Formal Town Position on Proposition 23
The committee voted to recommend to the Los Altos Hills town council that the town take a
formal position in opposition to Proposition 23. The rationale for this recommended position
included:
- Concurrence with the position stated by Rafael Reyes of the Sierra Club
- Regulatory stability
- Global corporations are reducing their carbon footprint
- Impact on economy is acceptable
- Preservation of state’s renewable portfolio standard
4. Election of Committee Officers/EIC Initiatives Inventory
The committee discussed a set of possible new initiatives and agreed that a mission for the EIC
remains. The committee tabled election of officers.
5. LAH Green Building Ordinance & PV Ordinances
The committee continued to discuss potential recommendations on the application of the green
building ordinance to existing homes and other ordinance revisions. The committee provisionally
agreed not to recommend application of Green Point requirements to existing homes undergoing
remodel or expansion. The committee would recommend several voluntary measures, including
applying ACCA Manual calculations in situations where most of the ductwork is replaced, on-site
energy audits, or HERS verification of construction. The committee would consider requiring a
High-Energy Home Assessment or equivalent depending on the Spring 2011 findings of the
pending pilot.
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.
The committee provisionally agreed to recommend an increase in the Green Point minimum for
new homes, along with a requirement for ACCA Manual calculations and Quality Insulation
Installation (QII) or cellulose blown in. The committee also noted that the new Fast Track
Guidelines have minimal energy emphasis, where these voluntary guidelines could be where the
town encourages a move to much greater energy efficiency or zero net energy homes.
The committee also provisionally agreed not to make changes to the present PV ordinance. The
committee would consider requiring a High-Energy Home Assessment or equivalent depending
on the Spring 2011 findings of the pending pilot. The committee noted that PG&E already
requires some sort of energy audit to qualify for PV incentives.
The committee also provisionally agreed to pursue energy and water consumption disclosure on
sale. The committee would consider requiring a High-Energy Home Assessment or equivalent
depending on the Spring 2011 findings of the pending pilot, or potentially a HERS 2 rating.
6. BACC Steering Committee
7. Solar Domestic Hot Water Heating
8. Acterra/High Energy Homes assessment program/partnership update
Steve Schmidt reported that the CEC contract is pending but not yet executed.
9. Public Comment
10. Adjournment