HomeMy Public PortalAbout20100223 - Sustainable Green Committee - Meeting Minutes SGC 022310 MINUTES 030910 1800.doc ~~ REV. 6/28/2010 ~~ PAGE 1 OF 3
TOWN OF HOPKINTON
~ SUSTAINABILITY GREEN COMMITTEE <”HSGC”> ~
MINUTES OF MEETING HELD TUESDAY 2/23/10 7:30PM
In attendance:
John Mosher, Nancy Dourney, Matthew Marshquist, Ria McNamara, John Keane, Andy Boyce,
Gretchen Govini, Frank D’Urso, Gino Spinelli, Mike Scannell, Ann Randall, Matt Silver, Aubrey
Doyle
Students: Rachel Gottlieb, Jessica DiFazio, Ruby Uniany, Nick English, Ryan Ashley, Meredith
Clark
o Minutes from 2/9/10 meeting approved.
o Activities:
o Marathon – April 19
o Green Up Day – May 1
o Green Communities
The town has already agreed (Selectmen and Town Manager) that we are proceeding
with this initiative. Two articles are on the warrant for town meeting.
Status on various elements as follows:
1. Elaine wrote up an article and the Planning Board approved it for the Expedited
Permitting Process
2. Elaine also wrote up an article for this and the Planning Board approved it for the
Stretch Energy Code.
The Planning Board requested the Sustainability Committee present these articles to
Town Meeting. Do want to review with contractors, building inspector, etc beforehand
so don’t run into unforeseen issues at Town Meeting.
NSTAR will be reimbursing the verification costs (~$800 - $1200) for new construction.
Will also require HERS rating signed off on house prior to getting the building permit.
Regarding the Software for energy monitoring, most information for Hopkinton has
already been entered. Next step is to add street light and vehicle information. Still
recommending that we perform energy audits for town buildings; Brian Main had quite a
bit of information regarding these buildings.
Next step is to start filling out the application. This overall submittal has to be in to the
state by May 12.
John will distribute the articles to the group.
o Meeting with School Department this Thursday at 2 PM to review what being done at
each of the schools re sustainability.
o There was an article in the Independent reviewing sustainability.
o Green Forum
Will be moved to March 31, 7 PM at the library. Will be checking to determine groups
that will be attending.
SGC 022310 MINUTES 030910 1800.doc ~~ REV. 6/28/2010 ~~ PAGE 2 OF 3
o Waste Water Treatment Review
Matthew Silver is President and CEO of Intact Labs. They are the company that recently
won the award at MIT for new technologies. They are funded by the EPA, NASA, NSF
and USDA.
The design involves the use of microbial fuel cells breaking down waste water and
generating electricity (in lieu of methane); essentially electrogens plus ‘fuel cells’, direct
electron transfer. Design also involves treating the nutrients (carbon, nitrogen,
phosphorous) in the water. It was noted that aerobic digestion consumes 3% of the
electricity consumed in the US today. The design also has 50% lower maintenance
costs. They plan to sell this design as a retrofit for anaerobic plants.
Half of the costs to run a waste water plant are associated with electricity and
management of solids (sludge). This new design generates enough electricity to offset
all of the electricity demands at the plant. Plus, there is an 80% reduction in sludge
generated. They expect an ROI of ~3-4 years.
The waste water plant being built in Hopkinton will be an aerobic design, which means
more sludge and higher electricity costs. Could potentially siphon off a portion of the
flow stream and treat it in the Intact system. In order to support this, would need ~5-10k
liters of wastewater/day.
Intact not ready yet to supply a complete system. They hope to build a pilot plant in
early 2011 with sites identified before the end of 2010. They are currently targeting
hospitals, etc to start with. They will be meeting with the EPA in a few months. The
design will be capable of adding sensors to automate monitoring capabilities.
o NSTAR/Smart Grid
It was recently identified in the Boston Globe that Hopkinton is planned to be a Pilot
community for the Smart Grid. Scott will follow-up with his contacts at NStar and
provide update at next meeting as to what benefits this will bring, etc.
o Solar Panels
It was recently identified in the Metro West newspaper that the legislature was going to
be voting on arrangements for solar panels where towns could agree to “fund”
purchase of solar panels by homeowners, and homeowners would pay the town back in
a manner similar to the septic betterment charges. Andy will call our local legislators
and get more information regarding this topic.
o Sustainable Site Development Group (March 9)
Bring proposed criterion for Green Site development to the Planning Board. There will
be a group attending our March 9 meeting to discuss further. Will include Scott, Dan
McIntyre, Chuck Joseph, Steve Zeif, Paul Fitzgerald (EMC). Scott will have Steve Z send
his summary of the requirements for this; this will eventually lead to a zoning bylaw.
o Miscellaneous
o Andy will bring some info to next meeting re a company that comes out and does home
inspections, caulks openings to tighten up, including a before and after blower test.
o John Keane and Andy Boyce are interested in becoming full time members; they were
unanimously approved.
o
SGC 022310 MINUTES 030910 1800.doc ~~ REV. 6/28/2010 ~~ PAGE 3 OF 3
Next meeting March 9, 7:30 PM.
Meeting Adjourned 21:10
DRAFT OF MINUTES
Respectfully submitted to committee for review and revision,
Aubrey Doyle, Secretary