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August 17, 2010 - Minutes
A meeting of the Orleans Renewable Energy Committee was called to order at
4:00P11A in the Skaket Meeting Room at the Orleans Town Hall by Chair Mary Jane
Curran.
Present: Mary Jane Curran, Ken Rowell, Victor Noerdlinger, David Hubbard, Dick
Philbrick, Jim Hungerford, Chris Galazzi, John Jannell, Planning Dept. Liaison.
Absent: Sims McGrath, BOS liaison, Paul Rooker Finance Committee liaison.
Also present was Carl Freeman who arrived late.
Green Communities Certification and Grant Program
a. Mary Jane reported on the meeting of the sub-committee with the Building
Inspectors of Orleans and their conclusions on the adoption of the "Stretch Code"
guidelines. Discussions of meeting the five guideline of the Green Communities Act
(GCA) centered on #5 of the Stretch Code as the most difficult to meet. A new state
building code was developed in 2009 and takes affect in 2010. The Stretch Code is a
level above these requirements. The aim of the Stretch Code is to improve efficiency
of the buildings by 20%. Mashpee, the only Cape town with a GCA designation will
begin using the "stretch code" next year. Presently, Town Inspectors look at the
efficiency in addition to the regular building inspections. With the "stretch code", local
inspectors cannot inspect the GCA requirements. Trained HERS Inspectors have the
last say on the project construction as to whether the project meets the "stretch code"
requirements. There is only one HERS Inspector on the cape and he is in Sandwich.
There is concern with the current system of training HERS Inspectors. The HERS
Inspectors are generally Building Contractors who are in charge of training new
Inspectors. This could create a shortage of new HERS Inspectors or at minimum,
control the number. Another concern expressed was that HERS Inspectors, being a
third party, could hold up or delay inspections. There is one house in Orleans that
meets the "stretch code" requirements.
b. Study results of the "stretch code" construction does show a positive cash flow within
the first year. Mary Jane feels that Orleans should work to become a Green
Community with input and effort from all the Committee members. Committee
discussed the possibility of contacting local contractors and seeing what their views
and opinions of the new requirements would be. It also might be helpful to get a
HERS Inspector to one of the Committee meetings and ask questions of the process.
The HERS Inspector is actually hired by the builder. There are 44 communities
adopting the "stretch code".
Renewable Energy Committee Minuets—January 6th, 2010 Page 1 of 2
Ken Rowell made a motion, seconded by Dick Philbrick to "Committee will write a
report on the Green Communities Act guidelines 1-5 to submit to a future BOS meeting.
Committee voted 7-0-0 for motion. Ken added an amendment to first motion with a Jim
Hungerford second "The REC will hold a discussion among its members on guidelines
1-5 in preparation for the Final Report to the BOS." Voted 7-0-0. John Jannell will write
summaries of the guidelines for review by the Committee at the September 7 meeting.
Many questions arose as to the process, how to approach the BOS to adopt the stretch
code, many town homes are vacant for long periods of time, are there technical limits
for contractors?
COA Solar Project Schedule
John Jannell included a time line of the project in the Committee's packet. Project
moving along on time and looking for an October start. Pre-bid meeting today with
three companies present. Project will be on two faces of the building, southeast and
southwest.
No Old Business
No New Business
No Correspondence
Minutes of 8-3-10. Dave Hubbard and Mary Jane will finalize.
Adjourned at 5:11 PM
David L. Hubbard Clerk
Carl Freeman mentioned he will speaking at the Snow Library on his proposed traffic
improvements.
Renewable Energy Committee Minuets-January 6th, 2010 Page 2 of 2