Maryland Green Building
Network
January 8, 2002 – 6:30–8:30
pm
EPA Building – Annapolis, MD
Attendees
Walt Auburn, MEA
Kevin Bowser, Ryan Homes
Bob Corbett, AIA
Rich Dooley, NAHB Research Center
Jay Hall, ICF Consulting
Melanie Hartwig-Davis, AIA-COTE
Paul Hughes, Environmental Serv. Co.
James Kantor, Parallax, Inc.
Bill Kotis
Forbes Leland, Sustainable Bldg Sys.
Sandra Leibowitz, Natural Logic
Richard Lyons, MDOT
Mike Li, DNR
Eric Mendelsohn
Christina Mudd, MEA
Geraldine Nicholson, MEA
Janice Outen, MDE
Rob Savidge, NAHB Research Center
Tina Schneider, M-NCPPC
Stan Sersen, Architectural Support Group
Michael Shearer, NVR, Inc.
Dan Smith, Healthy Schools Project
Stuart Stainman, DHMH
Susan Van Buren, MDP
Karin Victorio, NAHB Research Center
Mary Vogel, Prince George’s County
Introductions and Review of Upcoming Events: Sean asked that attendees introduce themselves and then reviewed upcoming events as stated in the GBN meeting announcement.
There are two events that warrant specific attention. First, the NAHB is hosting its 4th National Green Building Conference in Seattle on March 24-26. Meeting topics will include marketing, energy efficiency, IAQ, and the future of green building. For more information, please check out their website at www.nahbrc.org.
Second, Maryland’s Tributary Teams are hosting their 6th Annual Meeting on Saturday, February 23 near Baltimore. The Tributary Teams were created in 1995 to reduce nutrient and sediment pollution entering our treasured waterways. The Annual Meetings receive well over 400 Team members and participants each year. The Program is requesting that any company, non-profit, or organization that would like to provide a display for their message and/or product, please contact Stephanie Behles at 410-260-8729.
Harvey began his overview of the national landscape of energy policy by critically examining the National Energy Plan as released by Vice-President Cheney. The plan, according to Harvey, does not appreciate where the true energy efficient and conservation opportunities are in the energy field and how to implement those opportunities. The plan, instead, focuses more on resource exploitation than properly addressing energy management. Current studies suggest that worldwide oil exploitation will peak in 2005, and spiral down afterwards. Clearly, energy management is critical and the subsequent challenges and policies must be addressed now. Harvey then reviewed several bills now before the Senate and House of Representatives that are both in line with and counter the Cheney Plan.
The key to promoting energy efficiency will be “Market Transformation,” that is taking environmentally friendly products and programs and accelerating their market process from conception to full market value. The first goal is to improve their market share, and then back it up with standards to lock in their effectiveness. This second point is largely overlooked under most market incentive initiatives. Means for this transformation include the Energy Star Program, incentives, and supplying a “mainstream infrastructure.” Harvey highlighted a number of programs ACEEE has assisted with introducing into the mainstream, including distribution transformers, commercial heat pump water heaters, and LED traffic lights.
Another approach to motivate a market is through regional incentive programs. After reviewing a few examples, it was clear these regional programs are in fact making a real difference. Harvey concluded his talk with the concept of true efficiency – the ultimate enabler for green building. From this point, and questions from Network attendees, a good opportunity for local governments is to work toward securing buy-in and interest from a few companies within a market. Once one or two show that efficiency can be included in their “mainstream package,” others will follow suit or fold up.
What a difference a year makes! Last year at this time, Ed rolled out a handful of proposed legislation addressing energy and green building issues. Today, we are enjoying the fruits from our labor during last session, namely the Green Building Tax Incentive Act. Unfortunately, those fiscal good times are behind us, and Ed was not as confident we could get tax incentives through this session. Therefore, the environmental community, via the Citizens Campaign for the Environment, has identified two pieces of energy-related legislation.
The first piece of legislation is the Energy Efficiency Investment Program, which was submitted last year. This would provide a surcharge on resident utility bills to fund energy efficient programs. Before the utility restructuring legislation was passed, Maryland’s energy efficiency programs saved about 2 billion kilowatt hours in 1998, or 3 ˝% of total electricity sales. These programs though were removed under the legislation, and this bill would restore this critical aspect of energy management in Maryland.
The second bill would establish appliance and equipment energy efficiency standards. The federal Energy Star Program only addresses about a dozen major appliances. This bill would fill in the gaps by establishing energy efficiency standards for products such as lighted exit signs, unit heaters, traffic signals, and commercial clothes washers. If passed, Maryland would enjoy saving 150 megawatts, or the equivalent of 75,000 homes by 2010.
As last year, Sean will keep the Network updated on the legislation and identify ways interested Network members can support these measures.
Sean previewed a finished draft of the newly created Green Building Program website. Network members provided input and suggestions on topics, approaches, and best outreach approaches to the general public. The website should be released by early February, and Sean strongly encouraged input and information from Network members.