Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Application (EECBG)
Summary of Strategy and Activities Energy Efficiency & Conservation Strategy
1. Describe your government’s proposed Energy Efficiency and Conservation Strategy. Provide a concise summary of your measureable goals and objectives, which should be aligned with the defined purposes and eligible activities of the EECBG Program. These goals and objectives should be comprehensive and maximize benefits community-wide. Provide a schedule or timetable for major milestones. If your government has an existing energy, climate, or other related strategy please describe how these strategies relate to each other.
Meridian Township's strategy includes several related EECBG activities: 1) Energy Strategy Development, 2) Technical Consultant Services, 3) Financial Incentive Programs, 4) Energy Audits, and 5) Retrofits. In 2008, Meridian Township adopted a resolution in support of the U.S. Mayor’s Climate Protection Agreement and created an Energy Team to assist with energy planning and action. An energy evaluation was also completed of Township facilities. The EECBG project activities will support these initiatives while engaging in an ongoing planning and development. Major Actions Timetable (from funding date):
Phase 1: Establish Revolving Energy Fund
Phase 2: Conduct Technical Energy Assessments (for major improvements such as HVAC systems)
Phase 3: Complete Community Energy Use Study/Modeling
Phase 4: Install Energy Improvements and Demonstration Project
Phase 5: Monitor Energy Use, Cost Savings, and Emission Reductions
Phase 6: Complete EECBG implementation within 18 months.
In addition, several ongoing activities will include energy planning, education and outreach.
2. Describe your government’s proposed implementation plan for the use of EECBG Program funds to assist you in achieving the goals and objectives outlined in the strategy describe in question #1. Your description should include a summary of the activities submitted on your activity worksheets, and how each activity supports one or more of your strategy’s goals/objectives.
The major thrust of the "Meridian Energy Initiative" is on building retrofits and a Revolving Energy Fund. This focus on leading by example. In the process of making energy improvements, monitoring results, modeling community energy use, and ongoing planning, energy awareness will be elevated in the entire community and the surrounding region. Meridian Township's staff and Energy Team will partner with the State of Michigan, local businesses, and other regional partners to accomplish these objectives. EECBG funding will supplement, not supplant existing fiscal resources. Activities include:
1) Energy Strategy Development
While an immediate strategy is in place, there will be continued development of Energy Strategies. Because the issue of energy crosses so many interests, sectors, jurisdictional boundaries, and agendas, a first step will be to explore "Who's doing what?" Regional partners have also mentioned the possibility of collaborating on a regional "Energy Directory." To assist with future planning and energy initiatives, the Township will perform Community Energy Use Modeling. An estimated energy use baseline will help set goals and select types of energy efficiency activities that provide the greatest opportunities for improvement. The Township's Recycling and Energy Coordinator will share progress and results through an E-newsletter, web site, calendar, and e-mail list. 2) Technical Consultant Services will be employed to assist with Community Energy Use Modeling. Energy modeling will support ongoing planning and prioritization of energy initiatives.
3) Financial Incentive Programs will include development of an Energy Fund (revolving loan). The Energy Fund will initially focus on Township-owned buildings and facilities. The Meridian Energy Team will work with the Finance Department to develop policies and procedures for use of the Fund and a committee will be selected by the Energy Team to recommend energy improvements. Post-retrofit energy savings will be monitored to ensure that energy cost savings are being realized and tracked.
4) Energy Audits will provide a more thorough evaluation of HVAC and related improvements in one or more buildings.
5) Energy Retrofits have been identified in all Township-owned building. While the exact costs and saving have not yet been determined, the Township will seek bids and assistance in order to further prioritize and implement improvements. A renewable energy project will be installed at the Township's Harris Nature Center, a popular and highly visible educational facility. This will support energy education, outreach, and community awareness.
3. Describe how your government is taking into account the proposed implementation plans and activities for use of funds by adjacent units of local government that are grant recipients under the Program (response not mandatory for Indian Tribes).
Meridian Township will continue to work with neighboring units of governments to share resources/ideas and collaborate on energy and related initiatives. Several collaborative efforts have occurred and/or are underway...
a. In 2008, Meridian Township hosted a regional energy gathering and presentation by former Ann Arbor Energy Manager, David Konkle (now with ICLEI) which was attended by several adjacent units of government, including EECBG grant recipients.
b. In discussions with adjacent governments, one collaborative idea includes development of an Energy Directory for the region.
c. Meridian staff serve on several regional groups that are likely to share information and resources related to EECBG. The Regional Recycling Coordinators Committee, the "Greater Lansing Go Green" initiative (which works to promote energy and other green improvements in the tri- county region), the Tri-County Land Use and Health Resource Team, and the Greater Lansing Clean Cities Initiative (fuel efficient fleet management) are a few examples. The Township is also a member of the Michigan Municipal League and has attended EECBG trainings.
Other Questions (detailed in original application)
4. Describe how your government will coordinate and share information with the state in which you are located regarding activities carried out with grant funds to maximize energy efficiency and conservation benefits (response not mandatory for Indian Tribes).
5. Describe how this plan has been designed to ensure that it sustains benefits beyond the EECBG funding period.
6. The President has made it clear that every taxpayer dollar spent on our economic recovery must be subject to unprecedented levels of transparency and accountability. Describe the auditing or monitoring procedures currently in place or that will be in place (by what date), to ensure funds are used for authorized purposes and every step is taken to prevent instances of fraud, waste, error, and abuse. Activity 1: Energy Efficiency and Conservation Strategy
Meridian Township conducts an annual audit of all of its funds. The project will be managed by the Meridian Recycling & Energy Coordinator with oversight from the Township Manager, Facilities Superintendent, Director of Public Works, Director of Finance, and Energy Team. The Energy Coordinator will be responsible for project development and implementation, and will regularly present budget and metric results to the Township Manager and Board. Project highlights and results will be posted on the Township web site. A pre- and post-inspection process will confirm that measures are installed according to project procedures. The Energy Team will provide an additional level of accountability and sustainability. Meridian's Energy Efficiency and Conservation Strategy (see attached EECS) will evolve and EECBG resources will help address this need for ongoing planning and project development. Three areas will receive attention:
1) Database Development & Networking
Because the issue of energy crosses so many interests, sectors, jurisdictional boundaries, and agendas, a first step will be to explore "Who's doing what?" This effort may also support a regional energy directory.
2) Outreach and Education
In addition, there will be sharing about the Meridian Energy Initiative as it progresses amongst local groups, organizations, committees that share an interest in energy, environmental, and economic issues. These include the Environmental Commission, the Planning Commission, Meridian Energy Team, Meridian Green Star Businesses, the Meridian Area Business Association, Greater Lansing Go Green Initiative, utilities, the Regional Recycling Coordinating Committee, environmental clubs, neighborhood groups, schools/colleges, and the media. An E-newsletter, web site, calendar, and e-mail list will also be used to share information, educational opportunities, and gather public input in to energy plans and projects.
3) Community Energy Use Modeling
To assist with future planning and energy initiatives, the Township also hopes to do some community energy use estimation modeling. An estimated energy use baseline will help set goals and select types of energy efficiency activities that provide the greatest opportunities for improvement. This is described further in Activity 2.
Activity 2: Technical Consultant Services
Meridian will employ Technical Consultant Services to assist with the Community Energy Modeling mentioned in Activity 1 above. Community Energy Modeling will help create estimated energy use baselines useful in community-wide planning and project development. Energy modeling will also help set goals and select types of energy efficiency priorities. Census data, demographic information will be utilized to determine energy used in various sectors (commercial, municipal, industrial, residential, school, etc.) and within sectors. Estimates of end use (lighting, heating, cooling, transportation, etc.) will also be provided. In addition, the Township will seek technical consulting support from ICLEI and others for community energy planning and development of the revolving energy fund (Activities 1 & 4). Activity 3: Residential and Commercial Audits
An initial Energy Assessment has been completed with assistance from Michigan's Department of Labor & Economic Growth "Rebuild Michigan!" program. More detailed energy assessments are needed to ensure proper sizing and other design details for boilers and other HVAC equipment. Technical Energy Audits will also reveal additional cost-effective ECMs and detailed estimates of savings. The State has provided Meridian with guidelines for Technical Energy Assessments/Audits and a list of firms that can assist. They have also offered to help review the audits/assessments.
Activity 4: Financial Incentives
A Revolving Energy Fund will be established to support energy retrofits. Savings from the improvements will help replenish the Fund to create a sustainable resource for future improvements. Initially, the Fund will be used to retrofit Township-owned buildings and facilities. The Energy Team will evaluate options for expanding the fund over time to support broader energy efficiency goals. Ten buildings have been assessed and over two dozen improvements have been identified with reasonable payback periods. Additional energy audits will reveal more opportunities and provide more detailed savings estimates(see Activities 3 & 5). The Meridian Energy Team will work with the Finance Department to develop policies and procedures for use of the Fund. A three-person committee will be selected by the Energy Team to recommend energy improvements. The City of Ann Arbor, ICLEI, and others may also provide guidance in development of the Energy Fund. A likely scenario is that 80% of the savings will be returned to the Fund for a period of five years and the remainder split between the General Fund and the departments within each building. Post-retrofit energy savings will be monitored to ensure that energy cost savings are being realized and tracked. Future expansion of the Energy Fund may take several paths. The Fund could be capitalized with grants, budget surpluses, utility savings, sale of assets, interest, and/or discretionary funds. In some communities, revolving energy funds provide key support large-scale, community energy efficiency initiatives. Evolution could involve using another entity to manage the Fund.
Activity 5: Energy Efficiency Retrofits
Over a dozen energy efficiency retrofits have been identified in an initial energy assessment. Several low-cost/no-cost improvements have been completed and many more will be supported by the EECBG using a revolving loan/energy fund (described in Activity 4 - Financial Incentive Program). This Energy Fund will be modeled after the City of Ann Arbor's Revolving Energy Fund. Staff will prioritize these improvements, develop requests for proposals, seek bids, coordinate installation, and monitor savings. As mentioned in Activity 3, additional energy assessments will also be completed, revealing new retrofit possibilities.
Priorities include T-8 lighting, high bay/low bay lighting, water heater tank and pipe insulation, timers for water circulation pumps, heating and ventilation tuning and calibration, high efficiency boiler and furnace replacements, variable speed drives, and occupancy sensors. Opportunities also include efficient building operation and maintenance including water conservation, plug load reduction, computer power down, programmable thermostats, Energy Star appliances and equipment, drinking fountain timers, and high efficiency motors. In addition, an energy efficiency demonstration project will be conducted at a local nature center. This Township-owned building is visited by an average of 15,000 youth and adults each year. An educational exhibit (or exhibits) will be developed to describe the improvements.
Energy savings will be monitored using Portfolio Manager. A large portion of the energy savings will be returned to the Energy Fund to support more building and facility retrofits. Additional jobs, savings, emission reductions, etc. are included under financial incentive programs (Activity 4).