INFORMATION #2 10-20-2008 - Laserfiche WebLink

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~7 CN~P€ER 3; PU~RStili flF EPA€RGY €FFIGIE!~:'" Highlights of Elk River's Green Strategy • Refuse-derived fuel • Wind turbine • LEED standards • Geothermal heat pumps • Educational tours/ demonstrations On$Oln$ efforts With support of the City Council, Elk River established the Energy City Commission in 2005 to manage Energy City activities.Through monthly meetings, the commission provides technical assistance to municipal and private-sector projects.The city's errvironmental and economic develop- ment departments provide support to Energy City coalition activities and use the coalition as a public relations tool. In turn, city staff, commission members, and corporate partners provide equipment, expertise, volunteers, and financial support for Energy City initiatives.The city will add an Energy City Coordinator position in 2008 to aid in program development and to increase transfer of demonstrated technologies to citizens and schools. Funding for Energy City initiatives comes largely from the city of Elk River and other partners. Not relying on grants is intentional.The programs promoting energy-efficient and renewable energy technologies, services, and products, as well as other green technologies, have to make economic sense to truly be sustainable. City officials have found that relying on grant money can change the focus of projects, diluting their original intent. Community awareness Much has been learned in the 11 years since the conception of Energy City. Its strength is in technical issues but it has had less success in promoting technologies. Going forward, the Energy City coalition will better utilize its partners with communication expertise.A reporter at the local paper has been involved in meetings for Energy City initiatives and routinely publishes editorials on activities in the paper.Tours of the dem- onstration sites and the Energy Expo increase awareness among residents. Residents and visitors can also learn about the city's initiatives by visiting the Energy City web site and the Environmental Learning Center. Another partner in the Energy City coalition, Elk River Municipal Utili- ties, distributes information on energy efficiency to its customers. Over the last five years, the entity has provided over 8,000 compact fluorescent light bulbs, 750 air conditioner tune-ups, and 1,500 energy star appliance rebates. Raising public awareness is a key component of the Energy City coalition's latest initiative. This latest initiative will turn the entire Elk River community into a "Green Community."The effort will start with a pilot project aimed at decreasing the use of electricity and natural gas, reducing the use of water, shrinking the waste stream, and cutting consumption of transportation fuel by homeowners.The pilot group will consist of 30 families who will receive a variety of resource conservation tips through workshops and home audits sponsored by the Energy City coalition. Leading-edge off- the-shelf devices and ideas will be identified to help participants achieve a high level of success. Results will be measured and shared frequently between participants and with the community at large on a periodic basis. Following the one-year pilot program, goals will be fmalized and the community will be challenged to be green as part of a five-year program. The Energy City coalition will measure communitywide results and share them with the public. €EtC~E 'JF Nft~NES~TA CITIES