MINUTES

Energy Conservation and Green Building Committee
Mayor’s Energy Task Force
February 17, 2004
3:00-5:00 pm, MG&E, 133 S. Blair Street

Meeting No. 8
Final

Resume

1. The agenda was reviewed by Sherrie Gruder for items to be discussed today.
2. LEED EB (Existing Buildings) Program, Michael Arny; Director, Leonardo Academy

Michael Arny is the President of Leonardo Academy, a non-profit environmental and energy organization. This organization’s mission is to put the competitive market to work on improving the environment. He is also a professional engineer with experience in utility regulation, energy efficiency, renewable energy, environmental emissions reduction, and sustainable buildings.

Michael is the Co-Chair of the US Green Building Council for “LEED™ for Existing Buildings (EB)”. “LEED-EB™” promotes the ongoing sustainable operations of buildings. It addresses existing buildings, upgrades and operation, initial certification, and ongoing certification.

LEED-EB™ rating system goals are to help building owners upgrade and operate their buildings in a sustainable way over the long term. Environmental approaches impact electricity consumption, greenhouse gas omissions, potable water, cleaning products, grounds keeping, purchases, materials management and recycling, and indoor environmental quality. Occupants in sustainable buildings are more productive. Occupants’ salaries are 85% of the cost of office building operations.

Since 2002, LEED-EB™ has been in the pilot program phase for testing of the guidelines. EB has the same categories as the other LEED rating systems and include sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy & atmosphere, materials & resources, environmental quality, innovation & design, LEED™ accredited designer.

The certification levels for the LEED-EB™ rating system are:

28-35 points, Certified
36-42 points, Silver
43-56 points, Gold
57-76 points, Platinum

The reporting requirements are to reflect what a building owner needs to do internally to ensure that their buildings are being run in a sustainable way. The basic reporting requirements include a policy and an implementation program. The program is to assign responsibilities, track the system to identify shortcomings, and then prepare a system for corrections.

The LEED-EB™ pilot program was launched in 2004. The pilot program objectives are to gain real world experience to prepare the ballot draft of LEED-EB; ensure LEED-EB provides strong goals for sustainable building operations, and ensure it is practical, and workable for application in real buildings. There are 93 buildings and 51 organizations participating in the pilot program. Pilot building types include commercial office space, schools, university classrooms and offices, hotels, retail, laboratories, manufacturing, federal/state/local offices and courthouses/jails, hospitals, private residences, art galleries, libraries, and visitor centers. Johnson Diversey in WI among them and now certified. The LEED-EB rating system is currently being balloted by USGBC members and is scheduled to be completed mid-2004.

3. Purchasing Department Process

Karl Van Lith, City of Madison

No specific energy conservation or green building guidelines are established by purchasing. Purchasing helps create awareness of products available and utilizes existing resources like State purchasing guidelines, Energy Star, etc., but agencies make purchasing specification decisions.

An output for the EC&GB committee could be guidelines that Purchasing could implement across the city.

Several initiatives have been implemented by the City:

• Traffic Engineering – conversion of traffic lights to LED.
• Motor Equipment--purchased three hybrid vehicles for fleet – future vehicle purchases will be fuel-efficient models, also more hybrids. Use of bio-fuels in various City vehicles. Target to convert all city vehicles to low sulfur fuel by 2006. 20% target for 2004.
• Madison Fire Department – converted two stations to energy efficient lighting.
• Paper used by City has 30% recycled content.
• All offices have recycling bins for paper, cans and plastic.

4. Other business, prioritize guest speakers, next meeting agenda item, other.

Website links need to be updated; send to Sherrie Gruder.

Make suggestions for guest speakers; send to Sherrie Gruder.

5. Break into separate work group sessions: Energy Conservation working group and Green Building working group.

6. Adjourn at 5:00 p.m.