Meeting called to order at 6:04 PM
Members present: Janice Kurkoski (JK), Steve Kurkoski (SK), Jack Cadwell (JC), Dan Dibble (DD), Mary Humphries (MH)
The 05-24-24 meeting minutes were unanimously approved with no additional comments.
Becoming a Climate Leader Community: “It’s a process” that will be explained to the Town. There are four or five criteria, and the opt-in stretch code may be a challenge. JK and SK summarized the Passive House Standards and referenced the info on the Ashfield documents. JK also summarized the most important 18 min of the webinar and hoped that we can convey the positive nature of the changes. SK asked in general why we want to become a CLC; what are the benefits?
- They’d pay for solar on municipal buildings with battery backup (for example, on WCS, the other half of the Highway Dept and the Fire Dept.)
- They’d pay for a sustainability coordinator.
- We would make a plan to move the Town to net zero.
JK will be following Ashfield’s CLC. SK feels we need more specific numbers to sell the program. We know it’s photovoltaics, and there must be something done every three years. Dan has concerns and isn’t ready to sign on until we have more information. Do we have to give up the effectiveness of zoning bylaws? Will the onus be on the little guy? What might be the side effects of big changes?
JK will talk to Chris Mason for more info, such as how many towns have passed the “stretch stretch” or “Opt-in”code? How many towns have tried and didn’t pass? Will our zoning by-laws be overridden? What are the costs for “pre-wiring” a house for an EV or elec. appliances? What towns are Climate Leaders? Long discussion about the big picture issues. We need to know the questions and answers before going public.
We decided to let this sit and get more information. Janice has a grant to submit by mid-October. She suggested that we meet again mid-October. Chris Mason could possibly meet with us via zoom for starters.
Jack mentioned a possible future truck wash which is a state project with water filtration.
Community First Partnership: This program is the brainchild of the electric company. FRCOG would be the applicant JK explained how it works, where a couple of towns go in together to gain access to more Mass Save programs and assistance funded by the utilities plus people higher up at National Grid, e.g.
We discussed looking for a paid part-time coordinator to manage these programs, at least finding another WBEC member. Conflict of interest? MH will reach out to John Fortune as a possible additional Energy Committee member.
Library and WCS: JK met with an engineer from Energy Source to look at minisplits for the Library and possible service upgrade. Trustees were notified. They also looked at WCS. Destratification fans to replace existing fans? The engineer will work with Gates HCVR. JK will get the numbers possibly this week and wants to run them past us at a meeting (zoom would be best.)
Meeting adjourned: 7:53 PM
Next meeting: TBD
Respectfully submitted,
Mary Humphries
WARWICK BUILDINGS & ENERGY COMMITTEE
9/23/24
Meeting called to order at 6:04 PM
Members present: Janice Kurkoski (JK), Steve Kurkoski (SK), Jack Cadwell (JC), Dan Dibble (DD), Mary Humphries (MH)
The 05-24-24 meeting minutes were unanimously approved with no additional comments.
Becoming a Climate Leader Community: “It’s a process” that will be explained to the Town. There are four or five criteria, and the opt-in stretch code may be a challenge. JK and SK summarized the Passive House Standards and referenced the info on the Ashfield documents. JK also summarized the most important 18 min of the webinar and hoped that we can convey the positive nature of the changes. SK asked in general why we want to become a CLC; what are the benefits?
- They’d pay for solar on municipal buildings with battery backup (for example, on WCS, the other half of the Highway Dept and the Fire Dept.)
- They’d pay for a sustainability coordinator.
- We would make a plan to move the Town to net zero.
JK will be following Ashfield’s CLC. SK feels we need more specific numbers to sell the program. We know it’s photovoltaics, and there must be something done every three years. Dan has concerns and isn’t ready to sign on until we have more information. Do we have to give up the effectiveness of zoning bylaws? Will the onus be on the little guy? What might be the side effects of big changes?
JK will talk to Chris Mason for more info, such as how many towns have passed the “stretch stretch” or “Opt-in”code? How many towns have tried and didn’t pass? Will our zoning by-laws be overridden? What are the costs for “pre-wiring” a house for an EV or elec. appliances? What towns are Climate Leaders? Long discussion about the big picture issues. We need to know the questions and answers before going public.
We decided to let this sit and get more information. Janice has a grant to submit by mid-October. She suggested that we meet again mid-October. Chris Mason could possibly meet with us via zoom for starters.
Jack mentioned a possible future truck wash which is a state project with water filtration.
Community First Partnership: This program is the brainchild of the electric company. FRCOG would be the applicant JK explained how it works, where a couple of towns go in together to gain access to more Mass Save programs and assistance funded by the utilities plus people higher up at National Grid, e.g.
We discussed looking for a paid part-time coordinator to manage these programs, at least finding another WBEC member. Conflict of interest? MH will reach out to John Fortune as a possible additional Energy Committee member.
Library and WCS: JK met with an engineer from Energy Source to look at minisplits for the Library and possible service upgrade. Trustees were notified. They also looked at WCS. Destratification fans to replace existing fans? The engineer will work with Gates HCVR. JK will get the numbers possibly this week and wants to run them past us at a meeting (zoom would be best.)
Meeting adjourned: 7:53 PM
Next meeting: TBD
Respectfully submitted,
Mary Humphries