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Municipal Buildings and Facilities Subcommittee Goals:
· Make energy efficiency a priority through building code improvements, retrofitting facilities with energy efficient lighting and urging employees to conserve energy and save money.
· Purchase only Energy Star equipment and appliances for City use.
· Practice and Promote sustainable building practices using the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED program or a similar program.

Municipal Buildings & Facilities Subcommittee Meeting: Thursday January 3, 2008 at 6 pm at GF City Hall Room A 101

Two presentations were provided by Tina Jenson and Jay Kleven on the subjects of achieving LEED credits on new construction and retrofits of existing buildings as well as Why Building Green is important to your Community

Meeting Summary of Subcommittee Ideas:
The City might want to consider a sustainable tracking system that is similar to LEED that would provide record keeping on what is occurring for new construction and retrofits on public buildings as well as construction that is occurring with public funding.

There was support for commissioning the city’s own facilities as well, and the support that this could save overall projects money in the long run, which would mean it would be important to involve all parties in the initial design process.

The idea to incorporate a green team from the city would support both the commissioning and sustainable tracking system efforts and could involve just city staff of various departments or a group of community experts or a combination. One idea that was suggested was it could be compared to the Downtown Design Review Board and their role in overseeing what occurs in the downtown area.

The subcommittee members support the city’s energy audit initatives that are currently in the process that include the work of the Energy Services Group and TCP review of a select few city buildings.

The subcommittee will receive information on the work done by Kevin Storstad with his review of the city’s ordinance in comparison to the International Energy Code and then this will be discussed more in depth at the upcoming meeting. Both Kevin Storstad and Bev Collings will be available for answering questions at this upcoming meeting.

One other item that was brought up by Judel Buls, Chair person of the Alternative and Renewable Energies Subcommittee that it might be more appropriate for this group to evaluate opportunities to increase pump efficiency in water and wastewater systems; recover wastewater treatment methane for energy production. Some ideas that came from the Alternative and Renewable Energies Subcommittee that they wanted to forward to this committee to consider were audit of city’s pumps for the wastewater and stormwater as well as a review of the sump pump ordinance. She mentioned that the Engineering Department was already reviewing the sump pump ordinances and that the City of Moorhead has a good program where they are offering credits on their utilities if citizens allow an inspection and confirmation that their sump pumps are properly connected.

Upcoming meetings:
Thursday, January 31, 2008 6 pm GF City Hall Room A101- Meeting Focus Review of City Code and International Energy Code

Meeting Notes compiled by:
Melanie Parvey-Biby, City of Grand Forks January 4, 2008