One individual’s report on the meeting of March 11, 2009.
After the power point presentation, a number of individual comments and questions were mentioned including: 12) solar heat panels; 2) installation of a tank-less water heater as opposed to insulating blankets around water heater tanks; 3) interest in ecological landscaping and community gardens; 4) concern for sustainability in the midst of ceaseless growth; 5) water consumption and stormwater runoff and impact of fertilizers and pesticides; 6) rubbish removal and recycling; g) subdivision land use regulations; h) insulation; 7) the implementation of a Green Library at Framingham State College; 8) a MetroWest Green Conference in April; 9) finances and green; 10) alternative fuels;11) agriculture and its commercialization.; 13) announcement of forum by Ashland Democratic Committee on energy scheduled for March 17, 2009; 14) sustainable development and renewable energy.
Mr. Kerlin briefly mentioned the Northeast Sustainable Energy conference on March 10, 2009 in Boston. The opening speaker mentioned that the LEED rating assessment for new buildings is a “scandal”. Accordingly there is a 25-30% savings on any new building. Using green technology there could be 70-80% efficiency with existing buildings.. Two web sites include:Greenbuildingadvisor.com and Henry Gifford’s energysavingscience.com. The second speaker from the USGBC agreed with these initial comments and stated that USGBC was working on refining the assessment with better {modeling} data. In the summer of 2005, 3000 units were certified out of 25 projects only 100 units certified during the summer of 2006. There is a problem with point systems which needs to be modified. LEED’s rating works a lot better with existing buildings since one can compare energy bills pre remodeling and post remodeling. A suggestion was the use of “as-built” models to assist in the rating system. Other comments dealt with mandatory and voluntary disclosure on energy and water consumption.
The summary reports on the potential task forces including the following comments:
a) for the agriculture/water consumption task force-- implementation of farmer’s markets, CSA, locally grown food; protecting from stormwater and the use of SPIFs, utilization of Warren Center off of Chestnut Street for a community garden; use of native plants, rain barrels to capture water runoff, monitoring water consumption; fencing wildlife.
b) for the building efficiency task force—implementing little things such as replacing light bulbs, educating people, keeping abreast of new technologies, building design, insulation, remodeling old houses, incentives, energy efficiency,grant availability, energy star, standard development practice, “stretch code”,leading by example, Ashland’s new high school; renewables (solar).
c) for the sustainability task force—piping sewer out of Town does not make the Town resilient with water consumption, stormwater development; green practices; lower carbon footprint; support local business; sustainability fair such as in Carlisle; Ashland Earth Day on May 2nd 9 AM to 1PM.
d) for education task force—teaching at younger levels, documentary films, book clubs, incentives.
