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Energy Conservation Committee ROLE: To advise the School Department, the Department of Public Works, and the Permanent Building Commission on how to reduce energy use and cut costs at municipal buildings. Town of Lexington, Energy Costs Including Electric, Natural Gas, and Fuel Oil 2007 Energy Total $3.3 million Schools $2,463,868 (74 %) Municipal $836,132 (25.34 %) 2006 Energy Total $3.7 million Schools $2,837,000 (77 %) Municipal $863,000 (23.32 %) Appointed by the Board of Selectmen: Chair Christopher Haines, Steve Kropper, Myla Kabat -Zinn, Keith Ohmart, Alessandro Alessandrim, Paul Chernick, Jeff Skilling; DPW liaison Bill Hadley, Selectmen liaison Hank Manz, School Committee liaison Tom Griffiths, Pat Goddard, Lexington Public Facilities Director, Roger Borghesam (ex officio) and Eph Weiss. HIGHLIGHTS: • Because of strong advocacy for additional energy saving measures made to the Permanent Building Committee, the project architect and the Selectmen, more efficient specifi- cations were put into in the Request for Proposal (RFP) of the new DPW building. ECC identified deficiencies in using LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design — a design standard by the US Green Building Council) Key uncertainties were the rate of energy price increases and the Town's ability to manage complex build- ing systems. • Worked with Pat Goddard, to expand reporting to major buildings and all forms of energy. An outside review of last year's invoices assessed whether the proper tariffs were applied to our energy usage. This analysis has been con- tinued through ongoing monthly reporting of energy costs and consumption. • Leadership from the Board of Selectmen and School Committee created a unified Facilities Management Department to oversee the Town's buildings. The change should improve the Town's ability to implement energy conservation programs. • Worked with DPW on street light bulb replacement that will reduce energy and costs for the Town. 270 incandes- cent bulbs were replaced out of a target for Q3 `07 of 1,000. Once completed, annual savings are estimated at $37,000. Responding to citizen complaints about illumi- nation at schools after hours, the committee surveyed exterior lighting and concluded that the systems and con- trols were well tuned to requirements. • In 2007 the School Department continued to correct deferred maintenance which causes energy waste. The focus has been low and no cost programs as the first and best energy investments such as boiler cleaning and effi- ciency tune ups; mechanical and control calibration; pre- ventive maintenance; re- lamping. Lexington Public Schools demonstrated the ability to remotely monitor HVAC systems at Diamond, Clarke and the High School. ECC supported LPS to set policy on school temperatures, and performance goals for new building designs. ECC explored whether to air condition future schools due to the impact on construction and operating costs. • CAPITAL: The School Department Capital Project list for 2008 includes $910,000 worth of energy related projects. Consulting engineers have begun to study installation of a gas- fired heating at Clarke. High School gym and the field house lighting project have been completed. Bids for Hastings, Estabrook, Bridge, Bowman, Diamond and High School steam trap replacement project have been received. However, conversion of elementary school heat- ing from steam to hydronic has been rejected because of the cost to re -pipe. ECC advised on utility rebates that reduce the cost of conserving capital improvements. Committee discussed forecasts for energy pricing and the implications for supply interruptions as global energy demand grows, while supply may have peaked. The ECC did not recommend initiatives beyond the ongoing energy management program. • Supported Global Warming Action Coalition and other groups in their environmental and energy conservation ini- tiatives and unanimously supported the resolution "That the Town request that the President of the United States, Congress, and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts take effective actions to address Climate Change." As an advisory board, the Energy Conservation Commission depends entirely on Town staff to manage the conservation programs and to carry out the energy saving maintenance and capital planning. The Commission acknowledges the effort and achievements of Bill Hartigan who served as School Department facilities head for most of the year. We are grateful to Shawn Newell, Assistant Director Public Facilities for his commitment to bringing building control systems into operating condition. We appreciate Bill Hadley's efforts on the street light re -lamp- ing program, and we welcome Lexington resident, Pat Goddard as the first Director of Lexington's unified Public Facilities Department. 2007 Annual Report, Town of Lexington Page 45