Agenda 09-03-19 Item 8-a - Minutes

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17 1 test structures for air tightness. He said this would be an additional resource to insure that 2 buildings are built to the following specifications: 3 4 New Building Commission - Energy conservation should go hand-in-hand with 5 renewable energy installation to maximize the County's investment, and Commissioning 6 has an excellent track record for ensuring buildings are built well and are performing well 7 from the start. Payback is often realized within the first 5 years and if the building is 8 performing well there are added benefits in avoiding water intrusion issues and 9 increasing occupant comfort. 10 Existing Building Commissioning- This would involve hiring 3rd party experts to analyze 11 building performance and recommend and/or implement the adjustments needed to 12 restore the building's performance to its original performance or better. There is often a 13 2-year payback on this investment based on an expected range of energy savings 14 between 10% to 35%. These figures are based on a 2015 report from NC DEQ and 15 backed up by a 2016 quote from a local vendor. 16 17 Commissioner McKee asked if this proposal is for private buildings, public buildings, or 18 both. 19 Brennen Bouma said County buildings. 20 Brennen Bouma said there is a per square foot charge with existing building 21 commissioning, which is based upon whether or not that which is identified is taken care of in 22 that same process. He said this is being done on a piecemeal basis currently, especially with 23 the replacement of equipment: HVAC, lighting, etc. He said this would accelerate this process, 24 and be more intentional. 25 Brennen Bouma said performance contracting is tricky, but would start an extensive 26 auditing process for County energy use, and a package of energy efficiency items would be put 27 together and financed together. He said the payments on the financing would be matched to 28 the guaranteed energy savings. He said this process is governed and limited by state stature, 29 and there is state staff to help the County in this process. He said there is question as to 30 whether performance contracting is the way to finance these types of energy efficiency 31 improvements. He said Durham and Chapel Hill have done this recently. 32 Commissioner Marcoplos asked Brennen Bouma if additional resources will be 33 necessary for the Board to meet the goals it has set through 2050, through the adoption of 34 resolutions. 35 Bonnie Hammersley said that is not for Brennen Bouma to answer, as he is not involved 36 in the budgeting process. 37 Commissioner McKee said the County is currently putting together a climate change 38 committee, and suggested that the Board move this proposal to the committee's purview and 39 that it engage the public in a discussion and come back to the BOCC with recommendations 40 and costs for next year's budget. He said this can also include Commissioner Dorosin's 41 comments on social justice issues. He said if this issue was put on a ballot in November it 42 would fail, as both sides would gear up with a chorus of pros and cons. 43 Commissioner McKee said yes of course it will cost more money to hit the Board's 44 identified targets, but there needs to be more of a vetting process by the public and a cross- 45 governmental committee. 46 47 A motion was made by Commissioner McKee, seconded by Commissioner Price to 48 move this proposal to the purview of the climate change committee, who will engage the public 49 in a discussion and come back to the Board of County Commissioners with recommendations 50 with costs for next year's budget and can include Commissioner Dorosin's issues on social 51 justice issues.