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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1984-10-01CORPORATION OF THE TOWN OF NEWCASTLE 40 TEMPERANCE STREET BOWMANVILLE, ONTARIO L1C3A6 TELEPHONE 623-3379 REPORT TO THE GENERAL PURPOSE AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE MEETING OF OCTOBER 1st, 1984 FROM: COUNCILLOR DIANE HAMRE SUBJECT: REPORT ON SEMINAR: "SAVING ENERGY AND MONEY IN YOUR MUNICIPALITY" RECOMMENDATIONS: That the General Purpose and Administration Committee recommend to Council the following: 1. That this report be received for consideration. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ BACKGROUND AND COMMENT: The seminar on "Saving Energy and Money in your Municipality", was hosted by the City of Peterborough in conjunction with the Association of Municipalities of Ontario and the Ontario Ministry of Energy. The seminar was attended by myself and Mr. David Gray, the Deputy Director of Public Works, Town of Newcastle. The May 30th, 1984 seminar was very informative and offered many suggestions as to how municipalities can save taxpayers dollars through becoming more efficient in energy management. The topics covered were: 1. The experiences of Implementing an Energy Management Program in your Municipality; 2. Reading Billings and Conducting Audits; 3. Retrofit measures for Facilities; 4. Transportation Energy Management; 5. Energy Efficient Design in New Buildings; and 6. A Technical Workshop. Speaking to the topics were both elected and staff representatives from the local, regional/county and provincial perspectives. Though each speaker made an individual presentation on a specific topic, all agreed that for energy conservation to be successful, and to realize the resulting real dollar savings, it is necessary to have: a) both elected officials and staff committed to energy conservation (examples were given as to how to achieve this, one bein oal Ij3o�4`� 9 g�P� ....../2 REPORT TO G.P.A. Committee -Page 2-, X/ the dollars that can be saved both at work and at home); b) one staff person as Energy Co -Ordinator responsible for the management of the program and to act as the liaison with all levels of government and persons involved; and c) an Energy Management Committee (Peterborough's committee is made up of one elected representative, all Department Heads and a Public Utilities Commission representative). It should also be noted that all speakers referred to the fact that assistance is available to municipalities, both financial and advisory, from upper levels of government. The municipalities represented were able to give examples of long-term savings realized on their part after their having taken part in Provincial energy conservation programs and Federal/Provincial make-work programs. For the sake of brevity, I will not include all of the examples given. However, a number of examples should be noted to highlight the savings that can be achieved. 1. Peel Region realized $80,000.00 saved from corrections on overbillings in utilities. 2. In various municipalities, during 1979-1980, due to metric conversion, many billing errors were made and if identified, these dollars can be recovered. 3. Peterborough, since 1980, through "low cost/no cost" measures, cut their library's energy costs by 40 percent. 4. Victoria County, on a "night turn back" program, realized anywhere from a five to 15 percent savings with heat costs of their buildings. 5. Peterborough, through the use of propane, saw a savings of 24 percent in fuel costs. 6. Common inefficient energy use included: i) two or three buildings in one area being billed on separate accounts at a minimum rate ii) street lights on separate accounts at minimum rates iii) being charged for properties that the municipality is not responsible for, such as parking lots. A key point that was emphasized throughout the seminar was that it is through "low cost/no cost" measures the more immediate paybacks can and should be realized. Programs involving major capital expenditures are often not worthwhile in terms of payback. i REPORT TO THE G.P.A. COMMITTEE -Page 3- October 1st, 1984 A question asked of those attending was, does your municipality have an individual staff person responsible for monitoring grant programs and the benefits available to your municipality? As the Town of Newcastle's finance liaison person and also someone who is interested in energy conservation, I thank Council for the opportunity to attend this seminar and submit the attached resolution for your consideration and approval. Respectfully submitted, /Z/,,G�//�e " 4WI tom/ (Mrs.) Diane Hamre Regional Councillor, Ward 3 DH/mr September 24th, 1984 RESOLUTION MOVED BY: Councillor Diane Hamre SECONDED BY: WHEREAS considerable energy and dollar savings are possible through low cost/no cost energy conservation measures; THAT the Town of Newcastle commit the Municipality to a program of energy conservation with: a) an Energy Management Committee being formed; b) an Energy Co -Ordinator from staff being assigned to act as the contact and liaison person for energy; C) that the Energy Management Program involve all Town -owned properties; d) that the Deputy -Treasurer be responsible for monitoring all government grant programs and keeping the appropriate committee and staff informed of financial assistance available to the Municipality; e) that the Region of Durham be asked to consider a Regional Energy Management Program including the appointment of an Energy Management Co -Ordinator; and f) that a copy of this report be sent to the Region of Durham.