Bainbridge Island Community Energy Task Force

Tuesday, June 23, 2009, 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Eagle Harbor Congregational Church

105 Winslow Way

Bainbridge Island, WA

1. Welcome and Introductions
Attending: Joe Deets, Community Energy Solutions, Paul Berkowitz, Conservation Services Group,
Doug Rauh, Bill Luria, Housing Resources Group, Neil Marck, Cato, Cathie Currie, Maradel Gale,
Sustainable Bainbridge, Jason McLellan, CASCADIA Region Green Building Council, Hilary Franz,
Tammy Deets, Community Energy Solutions, Diane Landry, Bainbridge Water Resources Committee,
Jessica Geenan, Puget Sound Energy, Irene Scher, Puget Sound Energy, Kelly Dickson, City of
Bainbridge Island, Matt Olsen, Kathy Wolf, U.W. School of Social Sciences, Chris McMasters, Cool
Mom, Susan Galloway, Barb Zimmer, Transition Town, Pat Miller, Bainbridge Public Library Board,
Linda Streissguth, Puget Sound Energy, Gerlind Jenkner, Eric Moe, Community Energy Solutions,
Ross West, Michael Read, Ross Hathaway, Megan O'Brien, Puget Sound Energy, Grant Ringel,
Puget Sound Energy, Don Bindige
Review of Objectives:
Reduce Peak Load Demand
Increase Energy Efficiency and Conservation
Increase Reliability
Reduce Carbon Emissions
Educate the public
Develop local jobs.
Public Comment
Maradel Gale invited the Community Energy Task Force to participate as topic for Sustainable
Bainbridge's first Monday in August. Hilary Franz will follow up with her.
Conservation Services Group, Presentation
Paul Berkowitz, Senior Vice President for the Conservation Services Group, which did the pilot for
the Marshfield, MA Energy Challenge. Paul overviewed many of the tools used in the Marshfield
Challenge, including seminars for contractors and residents.
See attached handout, The Marshfield Energy Challenge, for details. Here are some highlights and
comments not included in handouts:
How do you organize a community for action where everyone is active, involved, neighbor to neigbor,
elected to elected.
Partnerships are crucial. Bring in the leaders in the community so that they drive the program, along
with the utility and the institutions.
Umbrella message -- community wide message -- a thermostat, etc. that shows people what they are
saving on a weekly or monthly basis. Community wide, the conciousness changes. CRUCIAL to
explain what you are trying to do.
Data mining - find customers on key circuits, peak contributors.
Communication -- program theme
Every business owner also probably owns a house!
What's in it for me is the key human instinct.
Children much more receptive to social change invitations than adults.
"We're creating a new way to think about energy -- it's all about where we live, work and play."
Marshfield utility provided funding for significant underwriting, rebates, etc.
Targeting high use customers produced more substantial result.
Marketing budget: They estimated $135,000. It was actually more like $150 - 200,000.
45% of energy consumption is in single family residents 1980 or older.
Home energy reviews can give you an overview of housing stock and allow you to start targeting
measures which will make the largest impact.
Important to evaluate "realization rate" following activity. Were measures installed correctly to fully
realize the potential savings?
People love to compete -- comparisons are successful. Monitors/feedback to customers also
effective.
Marketing strategies must be centered around the audience having a primary role in the creation of
the process -> ownership.
Consistent message of goals and objectives is critical.
Don't keep a program in the marketplace too long -- quick action, evaluate, modify.
Surveys can both introduce the program to potential participants, and provide quick feedbavck.
paul.berkowitz@csgroup.com, (503)523-4816.
Discussion:
How to select measures? The Tech group is looking at a range of measures and looking at
effectiveness on addressing peak, efficiency, and carbon loading.
Paul noted that it is easier to work closely with the utility because you can use their numbers.
Home perfomance reviews will help us assess baseline and target most effective actions.
Doug Rauh mentioned the Google project currently underway to map energy usage, provide it to
homeowners and utilities.
Joe Deets asked about the Smart Grid program. Paul noted that some utilities like smart grid, others
don't. This was a smaller program.
Discussion of distinction between Demand load control vs. Demand load cycling, which turns it on,
off. Grant R added that "there is no definition of Smart Grid right now." WSU has been identified
as the center of excellence for research. They are focusing on transmission system and automation
of flow. Others in country are focused on direct load control of appliances. Some controls are
temperature-motivated. Some are strict timers, like water heater timers. The demand response
pilot that PSE is launching on Bainbridge will be direct control over inernet cable with radio broadcast
to the devices on the heater and waterheater. It will be a direct control. It is less designed to
reduce peak than to test the technology.
Kathy Wolfe asked about long-term durable behaviors. Social marketing is about automism
(CHECK) of behaviors. She asked whether Paul is aware of longer term progressions of such
projects. With population growth anticipated over time, we will need long-term adoption. Hilary
noted that for us to be successful in addressing the carbon reduction aspect of our goals, we will
absolutely need to be effective long term. Paul mentioned that Marshfield is just doing a one-year
evaluation. There is much more "buzz" around climate change and energy efficiency; the message
is everywhere,and is being taken in by younger people as part of their reality. Kathy noted that there
are extrinsic rewards and intrinsic rewards. Compentency/mastery is an important intrinsic reward.
Paul promised to do some research. Currently the research is nascent in this area.
There is aphenomenon called "takeback," where customers may start setting their thermostats higher
because they have a more efficient heat pump.
Neil noted that much of the Marshfield campaign was technology based rather than behavior change
based.
Ross asked about QIV Tune Up program -- efficiency tune up for air conditioning. This showed the
highest KW savings after DLC Central Air Conditioning.
Hilary noted that on the regional and federal level, alot of the discussion is around future buildings.
Here, if we can be targeting those buildings built in 1980 and before; if we can address insulation
deficiencies, it's unlikely that people will pull the insulation out. The buildings are a large element in
achieving this change. Behavioral issues are also important. Paul noted that you probably could
test behavioral change over time through this project -- set up a test group of 100 participants and
see whether they persist.
Diane Lanthe asked about the involvement of customers in the design of the project. Paul noted
that you have to look at the range of people potentially involved -- early adaptors versus later. You
will have an "s" curve in adoption rates, and will need to be continually adjusting strategies and
refining your approach to target new audiences effectively.
Doug Rauh asked whether the infrastructure on the Island is as efficient as new technologies.
Grant noted that there are new technologies that are more efficient. There are opportunities to
reduce voltage slightly; battery technology is moving quickly and it's getting close to where batteries
could be used effectively to provide reliability and shave peak use.
There was discussion over how likely the Kitsap Energy project is to receive funding.
Grant provided an update on the RFP process through which Community Energy
Solutions/Conservation Services Group has applied for funding for Kitsap. The RFP process is one
way that PSE gets ideas about new and efficient processes is by periodically putting out an RFP.
There are about 54 proposals currently in the queue. If PSE goes through There is a need to treat
the projects equally, but it is still possible that PSE can address this proposal outside of this process.
He suggested that the group consider other funding opportunities, like community block grants.
Those are expected to become available in mid-July, with deadlines in August. EBCBG has no
match requirement. Most of it is trying to get this exact kind of program happening in communities.
Hilary noted that this would be a project for the Energy Efficiency Subgoup that was identified at last
week's meeting.
Fourth of July Booth
Chris reviewed the plans for the Fourth of July group; plans are to introduce the project and hopefully
get a substantial number of people signed up. This will allow us to capture emails and opportunities
for direct mail.
PSE has offered CFLs, Honeywell has offered drawing for high-value thermostat. The drawing
would collect sign-ups over a period of time.
Hilary asked for volunteers for a planning team. Tammy, Hilary, Diane, Cathie, Barb volunteered
to serve on the commitee.
Ross pointed out that it is crucial that we develop a clear mission and goal statement so that we can
effectively raise money. Joe made a plea for participants to contribute funds.
PSE has offered to help with an online forum.
Maradel shared that she has been doing booths at Fourth of July... it's important to have a very
quick message, go out aggressively into the crowd, and get names and emails. "We're doing a
community Energy project on this Island... let's get your email so that we can keep you in touch."
Funding update: Hilary noted that an additonal $6 million has been set aside at the state level and
$400 million at the federal level has been set aside by DOE for competetive EBCBG funding. Fall
2009 is the likely target date. One of the things they do is set aside a percentage of
energy/conservation study.
Grant provided an update on the survey; probably the end of next week or so, the letters will go out to
about 9,700 households.