Incorporating Energy Conservation & Efficiency Into

Municipal PlanningVermont Law School Land Use Institute

2009

with support of the Windham Foundation

Climate Change

Graphic from UNEP, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, IPCC AR4 WG1 Figures, FAQ 1.3 Fig 1 (2007).

Vermont Sources ofGreenhouse Gas Emissions

Transportation 46%

Residential/Commercial Fuel Use 28%

Agriculture 11%

Industrial Fuel Use 6%

Industrial Processes 5%

Waste 3%

In-state electricity 1%

Source: VT Climate Change Commission

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80%

% of childrenwho walk or bike

to school

% of adults whowalked or biked

to school

Source: Surface Transportation Policy Project, American Attitudes Toward Walking and Creating Better Walking Communities, 2003

114

125

71

87

101

35

56

26

0

50

100

150

200

250

Million

s of

BTU

s p

er

Year

Suburban Avg.(239 MBTU)

SuburbanGreen (158

MBTU)

Urban Avg.(136 MBTU)

Urban Green(82 MBTU)

Single Family Household Type

Transportation UseHousehold Use

© Jonathan Rose Companies, LLC for NRDC

Where does municipal planning fit with all this?

24 V.S.A. § 4302

Vermont Planning & Development Goals

First and foremost

• To plan developments so as to maintain the historic settlement pattern of compact villages and urban centers surrounded by rural countryside

24 V.S.A §4302

Vermont Planning & Development Goals

…And• To provide for safe, convenient, economic and

energy efficient transportation systems that respect the integrity of the natural environment, including public transit options and paths for pedestrians and bicyclers

• To encourage the efficient use of energy and the development of renewable energy resources, including wind, solar, hydro, and biofuels

Municipal Planning and Energy

1. A land use plan2. A transportation plan3. A utility and facility plan4. A statement of policies on the preservation of rare and

irreplaceable natural areas, scenic and historic features and resources

5. An educational facilities plan6. A housing element7. An energy plan8. A statement indicating how the plan relates to development

trends and plans for adjacent municipalities, areas, and the region9. A statement of objectives, policies, and programs10. A recommended program for (plan) implementation

24 VSA §4382

What is an energy plan?

An Energy Plan…

• Analyzes existing energy resources and demand within the municipality

• States policy regarding energy conservation and describes programs to implement it.

• States policy on renewable energy resource development

• States policy on patterns and densities of land use likely to result in conservation of energy

• May address other related issues

24 VSA §4382

How is the town plan implemented?

• Non-Regulatory Implementation

• Regulatory Implementation

Non-Regulatory Implementation of the Town Plan

• Form an energy committee• Conduct energy audit of town facilities &

equipment• Budget for life cycle costs when buying new

equipment• Acquire and manage (sustainably) town

forests• Build sidewalks and bike paths• Light-bulb exchange• Hold a Community Energy fair• Other???

• Committee leads efforts to promote energy conservation and renewables

• Various approaches to forming committee, including:

- appointment by Selectboard

- subcommittee of Planning or Conservation Commissions

- ad hoc citizen committee

• Approximately 80 committees established to date in Vermont

• Enabling legislation allows selectboards to appoint town energy coordinators (see Section 4322), and advisory committees (Section 4433)

First Step: Form an Energy Committee

Some Initial Actions for an Energy Committee

• Develop a mission statement and goals

• Create list of town’s energy needs and resources

• Gather information on town energy use and costs

• Brainstorm a list of possible projects and activities

• Seek the support of the town commissions and selectboard.

Use Town Meeting Day to Increase Energy Awareness

• Excellent opportunity to reach out to

community• Set up an information table and

display, distribute how-to information, and sell discounted compact fluorescent bulbs

• Place an energy resolution on the town warning

• Conduct a public survey about energy use and views

Community Education: Button up Vermont Workshops • Home energy saving measures can cost-

effectively reduce heating fuel usage by 20% or more and yield %15 return

• Button Up Vermont- town energy committees and others organized 100+ workshops state-wide on home energy savings.

• Several towns are organizing volunteer weatherization and direct installation crews.

• Contact button-up@cvcac.org to schedule a workshop.

Community Education: No Idling Campaign

• Several Vermont communities have successfully implemented campaigns to reduce idling, including Burlington, Putney, Richmond, among others.

• Idling contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, wastes money, and damages public health

• Schools have adopted resolutions establishing idle-free zones.

• Communities have adopted non-binding resolutions, and implemented educational campaigns with signs, bumper stickers, and informational materials.

• Contact Idlefree Vermont – www.idlefreevt.org

Other ideas for Promoting Community Energy Efficiency

Lights out policies (night-time, not-in use) Green procurement policies Life-cycle costing for new equipment Water treatment efficiency retrofits (gray

water reuse, high efficiency pumps) Biodiesel for town and school vehicles Way to go Commuter Challenge Home weatherization Light bulb exchange Energy efficiency challenge (10% challenge)

Efficient appliances (Efficiency VT rebate on energy star rated appliances)

Energy and Greenhouse Gas Inventory and Surveys

• Create baseline data -- energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions

• Show energy use by sector (residential, commercial, etc.) and by end-use (space heating, transportation, etc.)

• Start with municipal assessment of energy use

• Compare statewide and regional energy data

• Provide a general picture of energy use versus thorough inventory

Improving Municipal Building Efficiency: City of Montpelier

Annual energy bill -- $560k (FY08) of: • electricity $320k, • space heat $195k • fleet fuel $45k

Anticipated annual energy savings: $60k (projected payback period --10 years)

Total cost of energy investments: $462k: • lighting retrofit $264k; • controls upgrades $120k • building envelope $49k

• For a list of energy auditors contact www.efficiencyvermont.org

Converting to Biomass in Public Schools

• 31 schools in Vermont use wood heat (principally wood chips)

• Saved an average of $48,000 per school

• 40-60% cost savings compared to oil and 20-30% for natural gas

• Contact: – School Energy Management Program at VT

Superintendents Association www.vtvsa.org– Biomass Energy Resource Center

www.biomasscenter.org

Municipal Street Lighting Change-Out

• Street lighting can account for ¼ of municipal electric bill

• Most towns can reduce electrical usage by 30% or more

• Town of Plainfield saved 50% by purchasing lights and switching bulbs

• Town of Thetford conducted a street light inventory; turned off 1/4 of its streetlights and saved 4400 kilowatt hours and $1,760 in annual costs

• Contact Sustainable Energy Resource Group: www.serg.org

District Heating for Downtowns

• Several Vermont towns are investigating idea of a central heating plant to heat downtown areas (Brattleboro, Montpelier)

• Involves at least one central heating plant with piped hot water heat distribution to buildings

• Exploring use of biomass fuels as heating source, and idea of combined heat and power

Contact City of Montpeliervt.org/wip/districtheat/ index.cfm

More Community Energy Programs

• 10% Challenge - Contact Alliance for Climate Action www.10percentchallenge.org

• Low carbon diet eco-teams - Contact VT Interfaith Power and Light www.vtipl.org

• Solar hot water challenge - Contact First Branch Sustainability Initiative: swayze@pgnusa.net

• Sources to conduct local workshop: Button-up, VECAN, Law School’s Land Use Institute, VNRC, regional planning commission

Regulatory implementation of the Town Plan – putting energy into local bylaws

A “proposed conditional use shall not adversely affect: • (v) Utilization of renewable energy resources.”

“In reviewing site plans, the [board] may impose appropriate conditions and safeguards with respect to:

• …circulation and parking, landscaping and screening; the protection of the utilization of renewable energy resources.”

“Subdivision bylaws may include:• (C) Specific development standards to promote the

conservation of energy or to permit the utilization of renewable energy resources, or both.”

Planned Unit Development:• Any municipality may adopt zoning regulations providing

for planned unit developments to encourage new communities, , innovation in design and layout, and more efficient use of land.

Using Chapter 117 on the local level:The planning & development goals in Chapter 117 support a variety of

local land use regulations that connect planning, transportation, and energy. For example:

• By adopting zoning & subdivision regulations (section 4414(6)) and conditioning uses (section 4414(3)) to protect and provide access to renewable energy resources

• By conditioning site plan approval of uses other than 1 or 2-family homes on considerations such as traffic circulation and parking; landscaping; and protecting the ability to utilize renewable energy resources (section 4416)

• By zoning for downtowns, village & new town centers, and growth center districts to create compact settlements oriented to pedestrian activity, as well as coordinated transportation systems with facilities for pedestrians, bikers, public transit, and autos (section 4414(1)(A))

• …and more! See Chapter 117.

Statutory Authority: Title 24, Chapter 117

Section 4414 (6)Section 4414 (6) Access to renewable energy Access to renewable energy resources. resources.

Any municipality may adopt zoning and Any municipality may adopt zoning and subdivision regulations to encourage energy subdivision regulations to encourage energy conservation and conservation and

To protect and provide access to …renewable To protect and provide access to …renewable energy resourcesenergy resources……

On “circulation”, emphasize public On “circulation”, emphasize public transit rider, pedestrian and bicycle transit rider, pedestrian and bicycle access, comfort and safety…access, comfort and safety…

Site Plan Review

Encourage landscaping as a tool to maximize Encourage landscaping as a tool to maximize energy efficient heating and coolingenergy efficient heating and cooling

Section 4414 (1) Zoning districts…

(A) Downtown, village center, new town center, and growth center districts... :

(i)To create a compact settlement oriented toward pedestrian activity and including an identifiable neighborhood center,

with consistently higher densities than those found in surrounding districts…and…

(iv) To provide for a coordinated transportation system with a hierarchy of appropriately designed facilities for pedestrians, bicycles, public transit, and automotive vehicles.

Subdivision regulations (section 4418 )

include…(B) Standards for the design and layout of

streets, sidewalks, curbs, gutters, streetlights, fire hydrants, landscaping, water, sewage and stormwater management…

(C) Standards for the design and configuration of parcel boundaries and location of associated improvements necessary to implement the municipal plan and achieve the desired settlement pattern for the neighborhood, area, or district in which the subdivision is located.

(2) Subdivision bylaws may include:

(C) Specific development standards to promote the conservation of energy or to permit the utilization of renewable energy resources, or both.

(D) State standards and criteria under 10 V.S.A. § 6086(a). …such as criterion 9(F) Energy conservation. A permit will be granted when it has been demonstrated by the applicant that, in addition to all other applicable criteria, the planning and design of the subdivision or development reflect the principles of energy conservation and incorporate the best available technology for efficient use or recovery of energy

Subdivision (cont.)

Street layout to maximize solar access

• In Vermont, the best street orientation, to maximize southern exposure for building design, is east-west

• This may have the greatest influence on -- sets the framework for -- lot and building layout.

Think about vegetation

Summary: Implementation of plan objectives in the bylaws

• Establish who is responsible

• Promote mixed use development, home occupations

• Promote compact development where infrastructure exists to support it

• Provide density bonus to guide development meeting energy efficient standards to those locations

• Promote pedestrian, bicycle and vanpool use

• Waive permitting and dimensional requirements for independent renewable energy structures

Summary of Development Review ConsiderationsBuildings • orientation/maximize solar gain• VT Energy Code compliance and Energy Star assistance• water conserving fixtures

Landscaping• low water using natives• placement to assist building heating & cooling

Infrastructure• street and roadway orientation and widths, shading, construction, maintenance • street lighting • supports pedestrian, bicycle, transit use• energy efficient mechanical components for water supply, wastewater treatment & stormwater management

On the building level…LEED Certification for both new and old!

Wind NRG Partners Hinesburg VT GoldThe University of Vermont Student Residence

Burlington VT Gold(pictured) Vermont Law School, Debevoise Hall

South Royalton VT SilverJoseph E. Carrigan Wing The University of Vermont

Burlington VT Silver Waterfront Housing Burlington VT Certified

ECHO at the Leahy Center for Lake Champlain Burlington VT Certified

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle first.Less energy is required to revamp existing buildings than to produce the materials for new buildings, offsetting the savings from even “green” new buildings

Slide courtesy of Donovan D. Rypkema, PlaceEconomics, (altered from original)

Timber

Vinyl

Aluminum

Plastic

Steel

Concrete

Plaster

Brick

Timber

EnergyConsumptionfromExtractionthroughDelivery

Thetford Town Hall expansionA great example of retrofitting existing buildings

Resources and Contacts

Vermont Climate Action Alliancewww.10percentchallenge.org

Sustainable Energy Resource Groupwww.serg-info.org

Sierra Club – Cool Citieswww.coolcities.us

Vermont Natural Resources Councilwww.vnrc.org

Efficiency Vermontwww.efficiencyvermont.org

VT Law School, Land Use Institutewww.vermontlaw.edu/x3704.xml

Other Credits

Brandy Saxton, PlaceSense and Kathleen Ryan

Burnt Rock Inc., Associates in Community Planning

E2 Inc. & Springhill Solutions

Paul Markowitz, VT Chapter of the Sierra Club

Poultney Community Energy Project, Green Mtn College

Smart Growth Vermont

Vermont Natural Resources Council

Vermont Law School, Land Use Institute

Windham Foundation