Sharon Energy Task Force Energizes in 2010
Your Sharon Energy Task Force (SETF) has been hard at work throughout 2010 helping the Town and its businesses and residents conserve energy in order to save money and help the environment. To start the ball rolling, the SETF received an Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) of $33,750 for the town to use for specific energy conservation projects. These projects included energy audits for municipal buildings and town residences, energy education projects, and an energy conservation project for the Sharon Center School. In addition, a portion of the grant was set aside to address issues raised through the energy audits of town buildings.
The first project to be completed was the project for the school which entailed the purchase of a dedicated server to run power management software for over 170 computers. It is estimated that this system will save the school between $6,000 and $8,000 in energy costs per year and prevent several tons of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere.
The SETF also worked with CL&P, the CT Energy Efficiency Fund, Greenstar Energy and Wesson Energy to conduct free Home Energy Assessments for over 240 Sharon households, exceeding our original goal of 80 households. These assessments provided to Sharon residents $800-$1,000 worth of services in addition to money-saving rebates. A conservative initial estimate of the cumulative savings as a result of the work conducted during the assessment is well over $20,000, and will be many times that if residents take advantage of the recommendations and rebates received from the technicians.
In addition to helping Sharon become more energy efficient through the EECBG grant, the SETF conducted public programs on energy efficiency and renewable energy, attended numerous fairs and events, and networked with other energy task forces and energy professionals to become educated on best practices regarding energy issues.
One of the main focuses of the SETF for 2011 will be to encourage residents to sign up for the Clean Energy Option on their CL&P electric bill. This will not only ensure that an equal amount of a household’s energy usage will be generated from renewable energy sources but will also help Sharon receive Clean Energy Community status, as other communities in our area have done, and receive a free solar power system for our school! More information about this program will be distributed in the new year.
The SETF looks forward to continuing to work with the Town and its businesses and residents to help identify programs, technical information and other resources enabling energy conservation and the utilization of renewable energy leading to improved environmental quality and to reduced energy costs.
Sharon Energy Task Force
1. Approve minutes from previous meeting
Minutes were unanimously approved
2. HES Wrap up
Over 250 people have called to schedule Home Energy Solutions Audits as a result of this program.
The final number was not available at the time of this meeting. The first bill was received from one
of the contractors, Wesson Energy. This will be paid by the town and reimbursed by the EECBG
Grant. Wesson Energy and Greenstar Energy will be in Town conducting HES audits throughout the
fall. SETF will follow up with participants to learn about their experiences with this program.
3. Status of municipal building energy audits
The SETF is helping to provide Energy Audits for municipal buildings in Sharon to reduce energy
costs and become more energy efficient. The Town Hall, Town Garage and Community Center
were visited by a contractor through the CL&P/CT Energy Efficiency Fund’s Small Business Energy
Advantage Program. The SETF is waiting for a report from CL&P as to the results and what
measures can be taken through this program to make these buildings more energy efficient.
4. Web presence status
The SETF is listed on the new Sharon Website under commissions. The committee discussed ways
to take advantage of this resource to promote SETF activities and to provide resources regarding
energy efficiency, renewable energy and other energy and energy conservation matters.
5. Other business
The SETF with renew its efforts to encourage community members to sign up for the Clean Energy
Option on their electric bill. This is part of the requirements for the Town of Sharon to qualify as a
Clean Energy Community and receive a free solar energy panel.
6. Adjourn
The meeting was adjourned at 9:16 am.
Respectfully Submitted by Scott E. Heth, Chair
See also http://www.tcextra.com/news/publish/sharon/Free_energy_audits_for_Sharon_residents/1402700.shtml
Sharon Energy Task Force Minutes and Agendas are available at http://sharonct.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=153&Itemid=65
Sharon Energy Task Force
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Sharon Audubon Center
The meeting was cailed to order by Scoff Heth at 8:03 am, at the Sharon Audubon Center. Those present from the Task Force were Khurshed Bhumgara, Sarah Coon, Kathleen Fulir, Scoff Heth, and Carolyn Mattoon.
I. Approve minutes from meeting on 7/112010 Minutes approved.
II. Review status of HES program and signups
Katbieen Fnljr reported that there were 79 signups to date for the HES program.
III. Confirm actions to be tnken for post-letter promotion for lIES program The task force discussed various methods to promote the program so all 240 free lIES assesssments will be used.
W. Review of July 1115 program by the CT Clean Energy Fund Carolyn Matton led the discussion of the program by the CT Clean Fnergy Fund. The program was informative and helpful for all that attended.
V. Discussion of action needed to start the municipal energy audit program Rebecca Meyer at CL&P will be contacted for advice about the municipal building audits,
VT. Other Business
None
With no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:55 AM,
Respectfully submitted,
,J&QL Coc_
Sarah Coon, Secretary
Sharon Energy Task Force
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Sharon Audubon Center
The meeting was called to order by Scott Heth at 8:06 a.m. at the Sharon Audubon
Center. Those present from the Task Force were Sarah Coon, Sara Cousins, Kathleen
Fuhr, Scott Heth, and Carolyn Mattoon.
I. Approve minutes from meeting on 06/17/2010 Minutes approved.
II. Review strategy for administering HES assessments to residents as per EECBG grant.
Letter scheduled to be mailed on July 6, 2010.
IlL Confirm actions to be taken to alert residents of the letter announcing the above program.
Task force member Carolyn Mattoon volunteered to hand out flyers at the post office on July 6, 2010. Others in the task force were sending emails through various organizations’ email lists to alert residents about the letter’s arrival. Press release expected in the Lakeville Journal.
Iv. Finalize logistics regarding July 11, 2010 program by the Clean Energy
Fund.
Organized volunteers and materials for presentation on July 1 1 , 20 1 0 at
2:00PM.
With no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:44 AM.
Re sp ectfully submitted,
t
Sarah Coon, Secretary
Meeting was called to order at 8:06 am by Scott Heth, Chair. Task force members present included
Khurshed Bhumgara, Kathleen Fuhr, Sarah Cousins, Lyn Mattoon and Scott Heth. Also in attendance
was Meg Szalewicz.