2010 - Winter

Winter 2010/2011

Maplewood Seasons

Sustainable

The Greening of Maplewood

Maplewood photo by Christa Rittberg

Energy Sweep

Energy provides several ways that residents and businesses can make strides towards reducing energy.

By Yvonne Pfeifer, Xcel Energy Community Energy Efficiency Manager

Not sure where to start? Energy audits are the best first step toward making a home or business more energy efficient. An energy audit can help evaluate your property to find the best energy investments.

The City of Maplewood and Xcel Energy have teamed up in an effort to make energy efficiency a focal point in the community through a Community Energy Sweep. The sweep is a collaborative program that brings together local businesses, citizens, non-profits and community leaders to increase awareness and implementation of energy-efficiency programs for residents and businesses.

Maplewood was selected as one of four cities this year to participate in the sweep due to Maplewood’s reputation as a green-forward city, and its desire to save energy. In December 2009 the city adopted an Energy Efficiency and Conservation Strategy that establishes policies and goals to move Maplewood in the direction of improved long-term operational energy efficiency, and to encourage those goals in the community. To help Maplewood and other cities achieve their sustainability goals, Xcel

For a fast and easy way to save on your energy bills, sign up for a Home Energy Squad visit. Energy experts in the squad will arrive at your door equipped with energysaving tools you need to make your home more efficient. After assessing your home’s energy efficiency, the squad will install efficiency-boosting products you have selected - all in one visit - so you can begin saving money and energy right away!

Did you know that you could be losing up to 25% of your heating or cooling energy if your home doesn’t have sufficient insulation? With rebates up to $300 of the cost of insulation, saving energy can mean keeping more money in your pocket. By properly

insulating your home, you can stay warm and lower heating and cooling bills.

Even in challenging economic times, many businesses are looking for ways to reduce their environmental impact while still making smart financial decisions. Xcel Energy offers a variety of programs that can help to lower up-front costs for energy-efficient improvements in businesses. For most businesses, lighting is a main driver of energy use which accounts for up to 44% of a business’ monthly energy bill. Every step to lower your lighting use – from installing energy-efficient lighting to limiting overall light consumption – can significantly lower your energy bills and earn substantial rebates.

When it comes to reducing energy efficiency, Xcel Energy has programs and rebates that will help you save energy in your home and business, which will ultimately save you money. Join the Energy Sweep and take advantage of these programs today!

Xcel Energy Efficiency Programs And Rebates

Home Energy Audit xcelenergy.com/homeenergyaudit

Home Energy Squad homeenergysquad.net

Residential xcelenergy.com/homerebates

Business xcelenergy.com/rebates

Energy Grant Update

UPGRADES TO CITY HALL

By Shann Finwall, AICP, Environmental Planner In 2009, Maplewood received an Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) to help meet local, state and national long-term clean energy and climate goals. The grant was funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for projects that reduce total energy use and fossil fuel emissions, improve energy efficiency and spur economic growth. The city was awarded $163,900 for energy efficiency projects.

In December 2009, the city completed its first grant-funded project, the creation of an Energy Efficiency and Conservation Strategy. This was the first step to creating energy goals and implementation strategies for the city. Other projects completed since the grant award include the installation of boilers and upgrades to the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system at city hall, and the completion of Maplewood Mall’s parking lot lighting upgrades. Over a one-year period, these improvements will save 84,142 KWH of energy and reduce CO2 by 636 tons. That equates to the amount of energy and CO2 generated by running 841,420 - 100 Watt light bulbs for a year.

Projects in progress include installing new lights at the Community Center gymnasium, solar photovoltaic panels at the Nature Center, and conducting energy audits for city buildings and city fleet. Additionally, the city is working on implementation strategies for the adopted Energy Efficiency and Conservation Strategy including an environmental purchasing policy and the creation of a renewable energy ordinance to promote wind, solar and geothermal energy uses in the city. These remaining projects should be completed by the summer of 2011.

For additional information on the EECBG program or to share ideas on energy efficiency and conservation strategies, please contact Shann Finwall, AICP, Environmental Planner, at 651.249.2304 or shann.finwall@ci.maplewood.mn.us.

Boilers

HVAC Frequency Drives

Boiler Pumps

Maplewood Mall - A Big Energy “Loser”

By Shann Finwall, AICP, Environmental Planner

Maplewood Mall was chosen to participate in the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Biggest Energy Loser contest to save energy and fight climate change. According to the EPA, energy use in commercial buildings accounts for 17% of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions at a cost of more than $100 billion per year. On average, 30% of the energy used in commercial buildings is wasted.

The 928,000 square-foot regional mall participated in a 12-month competition against 13 other commercial buildings across the country in an attempt to “work off the waste” through improvements in energy efficiency. Nearly 200 buildings applied to participate in the contest, which ranged from offices and schools to museums and dormitories. With help from EPA’s ENERGY STAR program, the commercial building that shed the most energy waste on a percentage basis would win the contest.

Maplewood Mall Entrance

Since being built in 1974, Maplewood Mall has continually made improvements to increase energy efficiency. From retrofitted parking lot lighting to its use of occupancy sensors, the mall has lowered its annual energy use by 20% since 2005. More upgrades are being made, which include new LED lights, installation of variable frequency drives for ventilation, and the replacement of several rooftop heating and cooling units. With rebates and savings through Xcel Energy, Maplewood Mall has an opportunity to accumulate more than $55,000 in energy savings this year due to its multitude of upgrades.

In a fierce competition where the final top rankings were separated by just a few percentage points, EPA announced the winner of the Biggest Energy Loser contest on October 26 - Morrison Residence Hall at the University of North Carolina (Chapel Hill). Morrison Residence Hall reduced its energy use by 35.7%, saving more than $250,000 on its energy bills and reducing CO2 by 840 tons.

The Maplewood Mall worked off waste in the amount of 6.7%, saved over $54,000 annually on energy bills and reduced CO2 by more than 732 tons. Overall the 13 buildings reduced their total greenhouse gas emissions by 4,896 metric tons – that’s about the same as taking 940 vehicles off the road, providing annual electricity use to nearly 600 homes or the amount of carbon sequestered by more than 125,500 tree seedlings grown for 10 years. Congratulations Maplewood Mall on becoming Maplewood’s big energy loser!

Maplewood Seasons 2

Reducing Energy Use – A Homeowner’s Story

By Ginny Gaynor, Natural Resources Coordinator

The house I live in was built in 1973, before the energy crises of 1973 and 1979. It’s a drafty house. Over the years my husband and I have reduced energy use by caulking, installing a programmable thermostat and silicone gasketed chimney dampers, replacing a 30-year-old furnace, and purchasing a down comforter so we could drop the thermostat to 58 degrees F. at night.

Motivated by federal tax credits for home energy efficiency projects, we decided 2010 would be the year we address insulation.

Energy Audit - Our first step was to have an energy audit done. There are different types of audits from a home walk through, to a blower door test, to an infrared thermographic inspection and more. My husband, a scientist by nature, wanted a thorough audit including the blower door and infrared tests. For this type of audit one mounts a panel and fan with pressure gauge in an exterior doorway. The fan draws air out of the house, lowering the indoor air pressure. As outside air leaks in, the auditor can determine the air tightness of the house. Add in the infrared test and you can pinpoint areas with high heat loss. The auditor’s report recommended several energy improvements for our home. We evaluated payback for each improvement and prioritized projects.

Attic Insulation The first shock the audit presented was that the R-value in our attic was only 10, versus the recommended 50! This probably Existing Fiberglass Insulation New Cellulose Insulation shouldn’t have surprised us given the age of our home. The auditor estimated a three to six year payback for increasing the attic insulation to R-50. We hired a contractor to blow cellulose insulation on top of the existing fiberglass insulation. Most cellulose insulation is shredded recycled newsprint that is treated with a flame retardant.

Windows - I confess I had hoped the audit would indicate we needed to replace our windows, which get stuck and need refinishing. But upgrading from 1970’s double-paned windows to newer windows was not going to be our best energy saving strategy. The primary problem was not heat loss through the panes but air leaking in around the window trim. The solution: carefully pry off the inside window trim, spray in foam insulation, and replace the trim. Some contractors didn’t even want to bid on this job, knowing it would be tricky and they might have to replace any trim they cracked.

Our projects this year also included insulating the rim joists (located where the basement ceiling meets the outer shell of the house) and correcting moisture problems (which should be addressed when you’re adding insulation). The energy rebate that spurred us to better insulate our house ends in 2010, but there are other rebates and incentives for making energy saving home improvements. For more information, visit Xcel Energy’s website at responsiblebynature.com.

Environmental Neighborhood Groups

By Randee Edmundson, ENR Commissioner

Buckthorn Removal In A Neighborhood

The environmental neighborhood subcommittee was formed by the Environmental and Natural Resources (ENR) Commission to look at ways to support neighborhoods in taking action to improve their environment. Specifically, the subcommittee wants to promote programs that would benefit or be more powerful from a neighborhood group effort.

For our first neighborhood program opportunity the subcommittee partnered with Xcel Energy and the Metro Clean Energy Resource Team to offer a free energy efficiency workshop on October 19 at the Maplewood Community Center. During the workshop energy experts gave a presentation on simple ways to save money and energy in homes, and discussed energy efficiency programs and rebates offered by Xcel Energy.

One program offered by Xcel Energy is the Home Energy Squad visit. This involves a visit by energy experts who review your energy efficiency and make energy saving recommendations. If you missed the workshop, you or your neighbors can still sign up for a Home Energy Squad visit and get free labor and guidance in reducing your energy bills. You pay only the cost of the materials (i.e. programmable thermostat, CFL bulbs, etc.) at a reduced price. Overall cost ranges from $50 to $80. For more information, visit the Xcel Energy Home Energy Squad website at homeenergysquad.net or call 1.866.222.4595.

The subcommitte encourages you to think about working together on an environmental project with your neighbors. Please let us know what you and your neighbors are doing or thinking about doing to improve your shared environment. Your stories and ideas can inspire other neighborhood groups and we can work to support you and help find community partners. For more information or to share your story, contact Randee Edmundson, ENR Commissioner, at edmundson. randee@gmail.com.

Maplewood Seasons 3

Winter Energy Saving Strategies In Animals

By Ann Hutchinson, Lead Naturalist

One of the most important energy saving strategies for humans is to insulate our homes. But what do you do if you are a bird or a mouse? Homeotherms - animals that maintain their own body temperature regardless of the ambient temperature - can spend 8090% of their energy doing just that. If the air gets cold, the metabolic rate increases. A key to saving energy if you are a mouse, is figuring out ways to reduce your metabolic rate. Here are some strategies animals use to save energy.

Use Snow as an Insulator! Tiny mammals take cover under the snow. Scientists have found that the temperature under the snow can be as high as 23 degrees F. even though the air temperature is as cold as -4 degrees F. An air space develops beneath the snow as water vapor moves upward through the snow pack. Shrews and voles move through this Field Mouse subnivean space.

Grow Lots of Fur! Mammals larger than a squirrel grow a thick winter coat that can insulate them from below zero temperatures.

Go Underground and Hibernate! The ambient temperature underground is around 40 degrees F. Ground squirrels, woodchucks and bats are examples of true hibernators. For true hibernation to happen, the heart rate and metabolic rate decline, then the body temperature drops to levels just a few degrees above freezing. Gasping once or twice every couple of minutes while their heart slows to one or two beats per minute, these animals may take one to two hours to completely wake up.* Aquatic hibernators such as turtles and leopard frogs bury themselves in the mud under ponds and lakes. Toads, wood frogs and salamanders hide under a log or leaf litter up to three feet deep in the dirt.

Eat a Lot –Develop Brown Fat! Bears convert their diet of blueberries, ant larvae, hazelnuts and acorns to body fat, including brown fat. Brown fat is a specialized fat that generates heat. After searching out a suitable den, they curl up in a deep sleep and live off their fat for four months. A female, especially, must ensure a good harvest or she will be unable to feed her young born in February. Unlike true hibernators, a bear can wake up fairly quickly.

Huddle Together to Stay Warm! Winter active animals, such as mice and birds, huddle together to stay warm. Studies indicate that huddling reduces their energy needs by 30%. Muskrats that huddle together in their lodges are able to stay 14% warmer, thus reducing their need to eat.** * Ecology and Field Biology by Robert Leo Smith, 2000. ** Connecticut Wildlife by George Hammerson, 2004.

By Oakley Biesanz, Naturalist

You can find more nature light switch covers on the Nature Center’s website at www.ci.maplewood.mn.us/nc. To read the story about the 13 year old MN boy who came up with “T.O.L.B.Y.” and to learn more energy saving tips, visit the MN Energy Challenge at www.mnenergychallenge.wordpress. com/2010/03/03/tolby-a-casestudy-in-fun/

T.O.L.B.Y.

Turn Off Lights Behind You!

T.O.L.B.Y.

Turn Off Lights Behind You!

Decorate Your OWN: color, paint, glue!

Maplewood Seasons 4

Printed on 30% post-consumer waste paper

Photo: Tom Crum

KIDS, YOU CAN SAVE ENERGY TOO… Cut these light switch covers out — tape them onto switches in your home as a reminder to “Turn Off Lights Behind You!”