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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-EC-1982-05-07 ENERGY COMMISSION CITY OF ITHACA, NEW YORK Regular Meeting May 20, 1982 PRESENT: E. Bury, D. Dylla, E. Holman, H. Jones, R. Lacey, B. Nichols, C. Peterson, and N. Potter. Also present were: J. Messmer who has been designated by NYSEG to replace J. Howarth, D. Kinsella, and C. Barber. The meeting was called to order at 7:45 p.m. B. Nichols was designated to act as Secretary pro tem in the absence of J. Fudala. MINUTES: The minutes of the meeting of April 15 were approved as corrected. On page 4 under Accounting Committee, the minutes should read "Ms. Peterson stated that she did not want to wait another month. . . . . .". Holman explained that her twice-noted absence from the April meeting was due to a conflict result- ing from the unfortunate occurence of five Thursdays in April. COMMUNICATIONS: 1. Dylla reported that he had responded to a letter from Alderman Killeen concerning the Tin Can stating that the Commission would review that building, but that since studies had recently been done it would not be the first priority for the Commission. 2. Dylla reported a request from Alderman Schlather for suggestions regarding revisions of the Administrative Code. Holman suggested that consideration be given to incorporating the Energy Commission in the Code. 3. Dylla reported the resignation of J. Howarth and J. Cottrell. There are now three vacancies on the Commission, one of which will presumably be filled by J. Messmer. (At a later point in the meeting when Mayor Shaw was briefly present, he asked for suggestions for new members.) 4. Dylla reported on a meeting at which he, Bury, Peterson, and Kinsella discussed the fact that NYSEG would not install low pressure sodium lamps. A letter has been received from D. Collins of NYSEG explainina the reasons for such policy and offereing to discuss the matter further. 5. Dylla distributed copies of his memo, dated May 4, 1982, to Mayor Shaw concerning amendments to the By-Laws and other Commission matters. A dis- cussion followed in which the following motions concerning the By-Laws were adopted unanimously: a) The Commission shall report to the Planning and Development Committee or the Budget and Administration Committee as appropriate. b) The member of Common Council serving as liaison to the Commission shall not be a voting member of the commission. c) The number of voting members of the Commission shall remain at eleven. d) The terms of Commission members shall be 2 years--with staggered terms to insure continuity, 6. Dylla reported that the Energy Task Force appointed by the Mayor has met and he is encouraged by its agenda. After discussion, including Kinsella, it was agreed that the Commission could still serve an important role, rela- tive to City energy costs, by bringing subjects and data to the attention of the Task Force and serving as a link to the community. It was moved and unani- mously adopted thAt the Commission agreed with the Mayor's selection of Dylla to serve as the Commission's representative on the Task Force. (Dylla distri- buted copies of the ranking of Energy Use of, City Facilities in 1981 as ascer- tained by the City Engineer. ) STPXET LIGHTING: C. Barber presented his memorandum, dated April 16, 1982 (previously distributed) on street lighting. A revised page 4 was distributed. In the course of the lengthy discussion which followed it became clear that the location and knowledge of the street-lighting system has been almost entirely in the hands of NYSEG. No city employee has had the specific responsibility for the item which represents about 20% of the City's energy costs. Barber's report is now in the hands of the Streets Committee of the B.P.W. The B.P.W. will make the decision on his proposals. The need for more community input on the kind, amount, and location of street lights was a theme of the dis- cussion. It was agreed that the subject was complex and should be the im- mediate focus of study of the Accounting Committee. Kinsella was asked to get information on practices and costs in comparable cities. A specific request was made to see if the lights in the City Hall lot, now on the City Hall meter, could be put on a night rate. The Commission will advise the B.P.W. on its recommendations and hopes that it will be given the opportunity to review proposed changes in street lighting before the B.P.W. acts. COMMITEE REPORTS: Target Applications Committee Lacey distributed copies of letters to the B.P.W. : one dated May 7, 1982 concerned the C & M garage; the other, dated May 19, 1982 concerned the Hall of Justice. It was noted that in the second letter the $200 demand charge referred to the entire air-conditioning unit, not just the 30 KW motor. It was noted that there appear to be many opportunities for energy saving at the Hall of Justice. The committee's next target will be the Central Fire Station (probably to be followed by the Tin Can) . Hydropower Nichols reported that the Hydropower Commission had finished its assigned task and that its recommendations had been generally accepted by the Common Council. The Planning Department is now following through. Ideas -Incorporated Holman distributed copies of Section 88-A of General Municipal Law on Merit Award Board to Reward Employees for Suggestions. There is a need to develop- guidelines for such a board. Holman stated that the personnel subcommittee of the B & A committee of Council will meet with a representative of the Commission and the B.P.W. to develop such guidelines. N. Potter will serve as the Commission's representative. Two issues identified were: how to determine when a suggestion goes beyond the normal scope of the job; and how to set a threshold for savings effected. The B & A committee hopes to incorporate the plan in the 1983 budget. ACCOUNTING COMMITTEE C. Peterson having left the meeting (it was now almost 10 p.m.) , Dylla reported that she had been active but needed help. B. Nichols and H. Jones were named as new members of the committee. ELECTION It was moved and unanimously adopted to elect a new Coordinator (Chairman) of the Commission. D. Dylla was then unanimously elected. The position of Vice-Coordinator now being vacant, an election for that position was held. C. Peterson was elected unanimously with the hope that she will agree to serve. NEW BUSINESS E. HQlman informed the Commission that its budget for 1983 should be submitted to the B & A committee by September 1. The meeting adjourned at 10:10 p.m. Note by Secretary Pro Tem: I now understand why the minutes of this Commission cannot be as brief as I anticipated. **** NEXT MEETING-- THURSDAY, JUNE 17, 1982 -- 7:30 P.M. ��oRATEG,= CITY OF ITHACA ITHACA, NEW YORK 14860 w uir. sHaw P R E S S R E L, E A S E Contact: Mayor Wm. Shaw For Release on : 272-1713 Ext. 231 May 7 , 1982 273-3322 ENERGY TASK FORCE The consumption of energy by the City of Ithaca is quickly approach- ing the one milion dollar mark. As the result of research and inter- nal discussions for several months of my administration. I have con- cluded that energy conservation can be and is one of th+ost realistic ta.x savinas measures the City of Ithaca can undertake. Today, I am announcing the cr atic- oTi� "orce at the hi-,—Ft level of City Administration , spec: Tic :e17c•. ac::'_ s for the next three years and some of the methods to accomplish those goals. I do this to reaffirm my commitment to the savinqs of tax dollars and responsibility to lead our community in energy consciousness. It is particularly important at this time of year when high heating bills are something we wish to forget and gas prices are still relatively low, that the public sector curtail its consumption and reverse the growth and ex- penditure for electricity, natural gas and fueld. In order to assure the fullest cooperation, I have asked the Supt. oT Public Works Donald Kinsella; City Controller, Joseph Spano; Youth Bureau Director, Bob Cutia; Fire. Chief, CHarles Tuckerman , our Purchas- -more- Emi;ove,­i- ae Aft r i;,.t ress Rele:sem -2- May 7 , 1982 ing Agent, Jack Clynes, Bill Szabo, a member of the Engineering Staff and an ex-officio member from the volunteers who serve upon our City' s Energy Commission. This Task Force will be Chaired by Jack Clynes and will meet over the next few weeks and months to specify target buildings and projects where energy conservation can be gained; evaluate and make recommendations on Capital Improvements in 1983 which have either Energy Conservation highlights or are exclusively for the prupose of energy conservation; to support and implement some of the suggestions generated by the City' s Energy Commission; and to work closely with all. other City employees to respond to this mission. The relationship between this Task Force of Department Heads and the Energy Commission is one of close cooperation and parallel efforts to reduce the City' s consumption of energy. Most importantly, I am setting specific coals for My AC] 4nis�ration to be accomplished through the work of this Task Force. After lengthly debate over how thse goals should be adjusted to relect ever increasing inflation and rate hikes for utility costs, yet be in ;termsthat Common i Council and the public can relate to, I have decided that the goals I should be the Annual Budget figure for the City as a whole using I 4 actual year-end figures and comparing them to actual year-end figures from the year before. From 1980 - 1981 the City experienced a 16% rise in the cost of energy, from $781, 000 to $907, 000; from 1981 to 1982 the City budgeted a 5% in- crease from $907 , 000 to $952, 000. Our first task will be to live within that budgeted figure or less . For 1983 I intend to propose -more- iu Press Rele <se _3- Ene.- .,. r..r Ila% 7 , 1982 a 5950, 000 budget - a zero increase , and ask the City tc live wit_.iT that budget. In other words, I intend to accomplish a 5%. increase ca for 1982, a zero o increase cap for 1983 and a zero % increase cap for 1984 . In times of inflationary increases in the cost of gas , fuel oil , electricty and natural gas, I believe this will constitute a 25% overall reduction in the consumption of energy over two years . In practical tax dollars it means no new dollars will be spent- on energy consumption. Accomplishmegt of this goal will be a cornerstone of my efforts to control the budgetary rise in the cost of City government and I have asked each of the members of the Task Force to pledqed their full support wihin their departments and throughout the City for that same aoal . I intend to work closely with the appropriate layboards and Common Council to accomplish this task. [Where it involves prograrr:atic changes, we will ask for them. Where it requires Capital Improvements with two to five years -,:,,a,,,backs , we w-- 11 }. "' ::ere IT asks for new continued commitment and renewed effcrts tc conserve energy and identify conversation methods, we will require it. I will also be asking the community at large for general and specific ways to attain energy conservation by the City and to join our energy conservation efforts . -30- XIII. - PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE - AGENDA ITEM B ITHACA ENERGY COMMISSION BYLAWS BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Common Council does hereby approve and endorse the bylaws of the Ithaca Energy Commission as follows : ARTICLE I - NAME Ithaca Energy Commission ARTICLE II - PURPOSES 1. - To increase public awareness of the need to conserve energy. 2. '..To assist' in the establishment and implementation of a concen- trated "citywide energy -conserVati on-program, in-particular- to n-particularto assist the City of -Ithaca in reducing its energy costs. 3. To assist in the development of statistics on energy consumption in various sectors of the Ithaca community. 4. To work with the private and public sectors on energy conser- vation programs. 5. To -encourage and receive energy conservation suggestions from the public and to recommend policies that are feasible.. 6. To review building codes and zoning restrictions to determine . . their effects on energy conservation. 7. To keep energy dollars in the community by encouraging conser- vation and development of alternate energy sources. 8. To propose policies that would increase the energy efficiency of local transportation systems and patterns. ARTICLE III - MEMBERS Section 1 - Number andQualifications : The Commission shall consist of up to eleven 11 members appointed by the Mayor, upon the recommen- dation of the Planning and Development Committee of Common Council , and with at least one member who shall be a member of Common Council . A majority of the members shall be residents of the City of Ithaca. �..: Membership shall be broadly representative of the various segments of the City. Members shall serve a one-year term, with no limitation on the number of terms that can be served. -L ARTICLE IV - OFFICERS Section 1 - Cficers defined: The officers of the Commission shall Consist of a Coordinator, an Assistant Coordinator, and a Secretary elected by Ua members of the Commission from its membership. Section 2 - [,.hies: The Coordinator shall call and preside at meetings and appoint committees. The Assistant Coordinator shall , in the absence of tF.e Coordinator, assume the duties of the Coordinator and . perform other duties delegated by the Coordinator. Section 3 - Elections: Officers shall be elected at the first meeting of the Commission and annually thereafter at the first meeting of the calendar year. ARTICLE V - MEETINGS Section 1 - Regular Meetings: . Regular Meetings shall be held once each month. Section 2 - Soecial Meetings: Special meetings may be called by the Coordinator or at the request of a majority of the members. The purpose of the meeting shall be stated in the call . At least three days' notice shall be given. Section 3 - Cuorums: A majority of the 'total membership.shall con- stitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting. (or six (6) persons) . u Section 4 - Attendance: Each member shall be expected to attend at least three-fourths of all regular meetings , provided at least one week's notice is given. ARTICLE VI - REPORTS The Commission shall report regularly to the Planning and Development Committee of Common Council . It shall , in addition, forward comments and recommendations to any body. it deems appropiate. A vote on above resolution resulted in it being CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY at Regular meeting of the Common Council on April 1, 1981. i F,I NAL DRAFT I;rrebruary 16 , 198L �--�j-'t . k ENERGY COMMISSIO?\ 4 cW Robert 1'. % 77- Real Estate 2/o AJ J! '77a-Igs 6- <� Ernest Bury 2z(. z�3 -343N C°) Jeanne Fudala, ecretar NWSECA Consumer Panel Member z7Y SyZ7 Benjamin Nichols Professor of Electrical Enginee X09 L./tEVReC a-Y'. 273..�kS2 � LTJ Nancy Potter Cooperative Extension ,(3o x 3 s r u PPE 2 R b AP&Afev 27Z 2. 2-72--61l sc Y 4 Z4 7 -CEJ Carolyn Peterson Sell- Reliance Center Ila DEY .3r 27 2 -3-01/0 �dJ .' . R i-ftd-y- Lacey Northside Resident S/Z h/ O4A/N ,a -73 -74,9' I(H) z5�- �AKw) Harold Jones RSVP 736 C-9A(P4,E1A- /f VE 272. - Z366 Doug Dylla , A4-s-t . `Coordinator INHS is q RuQd2� S?' 273 9/f6 �H> L77 NS'oo Cd) NYSEG Building Contractor and Landlo-r 0 �f ITHACA ENERGY COMMITTEE June 1, 1981 - June 1, 1982 Telephone Business Residence Ernest Bury, Chairman 206 Valley Rd. (Dewitt Bldg.) 273-3634 .Douglas Dylla 109 Auburn St. 273-9190 (Neighborhood Hsg. Service) 520 W. Green St. 277-4500 Jeanne Fadula ( ) 3r.-A�_IL-,Albany,-Bt bang-St. 273--883f Carolyn Peterson (Community Self-Reliance Center) 140 W. State St. 272-301+0 Peter Penniman Elston Hill Road (Pennipeople Insulktion) Van Etten, NY 14889 -JCLLUes Turner /�-,-, Lt.ctJSiii.. L , (NYSE&G) derr-RoBd j ' 347-4131 Prof. Benjamin Nichols 109 Llenroc Ct. 273-6523 (CU Schl of Electrical Engr,) 14896 Ms. Nancy Potter Box 35, Tupper Rd. ,W. Danby -7 4-� 564-9267 (Cooperative Extension) 225 S. Fulton St. Stuart Lewis (Downtown Ith. Businessmen's Assoc.) 120 E. State St. 273-5996 Robert Morris (First Bank & Trust Co. ) 202 The Commons 273-2331 Robert Wood 210 Franklin St. 273-4855 (Ithaca Bd. of Realtors) Harold Jones � 730 Campbell Ave. 272-2300 (RSVP) 'dC, DeWg. 215-a,--Cayuga 8t. 272-2300 Randall Lacey 512 '_l. Plain St. ��. L � 273-7198 Agricultural Engr) ex of iclo• a Richard Banks 506 Hudson St. (Conservation Advisory Council) 1 CITY of ITHACA ENERGY COMMISSION 108 E. STATE ST. ITHACA, N.Y. 607-272-1713 May 19, 1982 Board of Public Works 108 East Green Street Ithaca, New York 14850 Gentlemen/Ladies: In a continuing effort to reduce energy consumption in city buildings where exceptionally high consumption has been noted the Target Applications . Subcommittee is investigating the City's Hall of Justice. A tabulation of city energy bills for 1981 indicates the Hall of Justice to be the third largest natural gas account. Similarly, an analysis by the Office of City Engineer has found energy costs for the Hall of Justice to be $1 .462per square foot for 1981 . Annual unit electric cost in that building ($.85/ft. ) were second only to the electrically heated Construction and Maintenance Garage. A walk-through of the Hall of Justice was conducted by members of the Target Applications Subcommittee on April 28, 1982. This walk-through was a preliminary observation only. It was not a technical investigation of the building's mechan- ical systems and was not i.ntended to replace the thorough audit that is needed by this building. We did observe several instances of energy waste and offer the following recommendations: , 1 . The building is served by a very large. (30-35 ton) central air condition- ing system. We suspect the operation of this unit is the single. most important factor in high energy consumption. The effeci of this central cooler is seen in the unusally high unit electric cost ($.85/ft ) and a summer peak in electric costs ($1 ,398 in August 1981 compared to $807 in November 1981 ). A large electrical de- vice -- such as this air conditioner. -- effects a building 's electric costs in two ways. First, . it causes a high demand charge for each month in which it runs. The 30 KW motor on this unit will cause approximately a $200 demand charge each month it runs even for a few minutes. Secondly, the unit increases the building's total energy consumption proportionally to the amount of the time it operates. Every effort should be made to reduce the building-cooling load. This will reduce the amount of time the compressor runs and, perhaps prevent the compressor from oper- ating furing the border cooling months of May and September. Careful attention should be given to the controls for the cooling and heating system. The set tem- perature for cooling should be 78° F. or higher. The heating set temperature should be many degrees less than this -- 72° F. or less -- to prevent simultaneous operation of both systems. Outside air should be used for cooling when outdoor temperatures are low enough such as evenings and mornings. This will reduce compressor operating time. 2. Lighting should be reduced throughout the building as it has been in other city buildings. Excess fluorescent tubes should be removed and the ballasts disconnected. Reduction of energy for lighting will also reduce the cooling load that must be met by the air conditioning system. There is great incentive to re- duce lighting energy. z 3. The boiler should be examined for opportunities to conserve. If it is determined to be oversized capacity should be reduced by blocking off some gas orifices. The outlet header should be insulated and all dines should be examined to assure insulation is adequate. 4. Set temperature of the domestic water heater should be reduced to a rea- sonable temperature of 125° F. 5. A refrigerated aftercooler for compressed air is now located less than two feet from the boiler header pipe. This cooler should be in a cold corner of the boiler room or moved to another room. 6. Man infrequently used portions of the building were found to be lighted and over heated. The use schedule of all rooms should be examined and lighting, heating and cooling of each room reduced to only what is necessary. Timers would be beneficial for switching lights in the toilets. 7. Six ventilation fans penetrate the roof. These should be used no more often than is necessary. Each should be examined to determine what areas are ven- tilated; what controls operation; and if dampers seal the exhaust when not in op- eration. Please remember these observations are the result of a cursory walk-through. A more careful investigation of energy consumption in the Hall of Justice may find some of our ideas to be impractical . Such an investigation would, undoubtedly, uncover even more opportunities to conserve in this building. Thank you for your attention to this matter. Sincerely, 0 . D. Randall Lacey Chairman Target Applications Subcommittee- DRL:eg cc: Robert Edsall Jack Dougherty Members Ithaca City Energy Commission City Energy Task Force CITY of ITHACA ew ENERGY COMMISSION 108 E. STATE ST. ITHACA, N.Y. 607-272-1713 May 7, 1982 Board of Public Works 108 East Green Street Ithaca, New York 14850 Gentlemen: The Ithaca Energy Commission - through its Target Applications Subcommittee is investigating city buildings that have been found to have an exceptionally high energy consumption. Large energy users were identified from the 1980 and 1981 City budgets. As a preliminary effort toward reducing use in these struc- tures this subcommittee has conducted inspections to determine 1 ) obvious energy waste and 2) the need for a detailed audit or analysis. One of the first build- ings inspected was the Construction and Maintenance Garage on Pier Road. That inspection, and subsequent discussions with Jack Dougherty, has resulted in spec- ific recommendations for decreasing energy use and cost in the C & M Garage. 1 . We strongly encourage conversion from electric to gas water and space heating. This facility consumed 836,000 KWL of electricity in 1981 at a cost of $35,000. The heating portion of this consumption could be cut in half by con- version to natural gas. Assuming 60% of the 1981 consumption was used for water heating or space heating in the main garage this energy (500,000 KWH) cost $22,000. The same amount of heat supplied by gas at 65% efficiency and $.40 per therm would cost $10,500. The Energy Commission, therefore, strongly supports Mr. Dougherty's efforts to convert to gas heating. We urge the Board to pursue this matter by col- leting estimates of conversion costs and by filing a request for gas service with NYSE&G. 2. A serious flaw now exists in the roof insulation of the C & M Garage. When designed the intent was to apply sprayed insulation to the inside of the roof of this structure. During construction this sprayed insulation did not ad- here properly. To provide the specified insulative value a suspended ceiling of fiberglass panels was installed. Unfortunately several utility pipes are routed above the suspended ceiling. These pipes, carrying water, air, and lubricants, must be kept warm enough to prevent freezing of the water or thickening of the lubricants. As a pragmatic solution a few Ceiling panels are removed to pro- vide some heating to this attic area. We recommend these utility pipes be either a) wrapped with heat tape and insulated or b) rerouted lower into the heated area. Fiberglass ceiling panels should then be secured in place. 3. Temperatures throughout the building need to be controlled and should be no higher than necessary. A great savings would result from nighttime set-back in the office area. Currently set-back is not practical as each office heater is controlled by an integral thermostat. The office heaters should be wired in one or two circuits and controlled collectively using a set-back thermostat mounted in the hall . There is also a need to lower and control the temperature of the vehicle storage bay. This requires a tamper-proof thermostat to be installed in the bay May 7, 1982 Page 2 to replace the existing thermostat. 4. A final need for energy conservation in the C & M Garage is a need that exists throughout the City. We must find ways to encourage all employees to participate in conservation efforts. Small individual efforts such as im- mediately closing outside doors and shutting off lights can result in large savings. The Energy Commission will pursue the concept of employee workshops and energy conservation incentive programs. We would greatly appreciate input for planning these education efforts. Please feel free to respond. Sincerely, C�2 G� D. Randall Lace DRL:eg cc: Jack Dougherty Jack Clynes • `'�. �1-ti -t o 3 `z.4 .. u z �- tz-�o Z. 2 � t._t � �U "� �# � c.� - t a