Agenda - 01-17-1978 - Laserfiche WebLink

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9 January 9, 1977 To: The Grange County Commissioners From: Joe Brads aw, Administrative Assistant to the County Manager Subject : The status of the Energy Conservation Program An extensive list of program activities and objectives has been developed. This list of over twe ty (20) objectives has served as a framework for soliciting the services of a compe tent Energy Conservation Agent who can successfully perform those activities mandated by both Town and County officials. After the interview process was completed, both staffs recognized that the extensive list of objectives is a conglomeration of both the Town's and the County's needs; therefore, this list is a highly opti istic assessment of what a government--initiated, countywide energy conservation program should involve. In order to successfully undertake such a comprehensive program, the County Manager has chosen to implement the energy manage- ment plan by dividing the workload between a consulting firm and a program coordinatc Therefore, the m ost appropriate course of action appears to be that of having an in-- house person to coordinate the various program activities for governmental personnel and an experien d group of energy consultants to design a comprehensive, county sponsored ener conservation program which may serve as a model for other units. This dual approach would include three major components: 1) energy conservation in existing government buildings and operations; 2) establishment of accounting systems, goals, guidelines, and emergency procedures for governmental use; and, 3) establishment of an energy management plan (including education of personnel and review of local ordinances) that will lead to a more efficient use of energy resource in Orange County. By dividing the workload between a firm and an energy coordinator, the coordinator will be allowed ore time for involvement in public outreach programs to be sponsored by the Orange County Agricultural Extension Service, the Orange County Recreation Department, and the Orange County Planning Department. The importance of such public outreach programs cannot be underestimated, for it is only through the commitment _ of all citizens to enemy conservation that substantial savings will be realized. The advantages of this dual approach are numerous. As indicated in our original grant proposal, re stressed our commitment to long-term projects. The combined experience of thI consultants will serve to create a program foundation that encompasses a my iad of on--going tasks that a single person would be hard pressed to develop, much�erform less to implement, in a single year. Because of its varied resourc the firm should its work more quickly, thorougly, and economically than a -- single in-house person. Yet, if our program were conducted solely by consultants (as some other ;governmental bodies have chosen to do) our commitment to on-going, long-term projjec s would certainly be neglected. Hiring an in--hou e coordinator to work with experienced consultants should result in the coordinator having invaluable information at his or her.di,sposal. Moreover, the coordinator will also have the opportunity to observe the experienced 'consul,tamt as they perform their tasks, many of which will require technical skill. Employing a capable, skilled in-house coordinator (or perhaps, "liason") should certainly allow the County to expand its program activities and to increase the program's impact on the entire community.