Energy & Environment Committee
November 7, 2007
Meeting started at 7:20 and ended at 8:40
Residents Present: Chris Gueymard, Marie Josee Vaillant, Julie Moran, Leonard Martel, Danielle Ruelland, David Belanger
Others Present: Bob Soucy, Robert K Young, both of Columbia
Established that the formation of this committee came out of the last Colebrook Town meeting, as an item that Emily Katz worked hard to get in the agenda to preserve energy and the environment.
Items Discussed were:
Recycling issues
1. Need to put a recycling update in Spring Tax notification
2. Need to recycle many items that do not seem to have any value
3. Items needing recycling (many others not listed):
1. Electronics, computers, thermostats with toxic metals like mercury
2. Oil Paint (alkyd)
3. Tires not used for holing down forage – issue of mosquitoes raised
4. Car batteries – valuable for cash refunds at local auto parts stores
5. Alkaline, NiCad, and other household batteries
6. Wallboard (gypsum)
7. Painted lumber
8. House demolition materials
9. Aluminum cans
Need to find a way to support the dump employees in enlisting public cooperation
Maybe make signs to post at the dump, listing savings of compliance?
Need to put together a highly visible project to enlist public support of recycling
Project must outline $$$ saved by recycling
Need the right kind of publicity from the News and Sentinel
Need to get recycling into all age levels, schools & community groups
Need to join efforts of several towns, to pool recycling and reduce cost
1. Energy issues
Energy Audits needed on town buildings so we can save town money
Energy Audits available to all customers of REA and PSNH
Wind power and solar power discussed for town and resident installations
Very Solar efficient transpired collectors (perforated metal systems) for warehouses and barns
Now available and affordable – should suggest to Town to save $$$
More Info: see links in Appendix
Waste oil recovery at Town Garage needs to publicize need for waste oil
Incentives to recover 25% up to $3000 of cost of installation of energy efficient items
Tax incentives also available: NH, Fed, and some towns (not Colebrook, yet)
Waste Vegetable oil or biodiesel for town vehicles would save $$$
Titus Hill Landfill will need much energy to keep its underground plume monitored
Lenny found a refurbished windmill that will do the job at very little cost to the public
Rough estimate of Annual cost of conventional energy: $50,000/year
Estimate of windmill cost: $150,000
Revenue might be able to come from the landfill payments without cost to residents
Building code enforcement issues - shelved for now
Air quality issues surrounding misused outdoor wood furnaces – shelved for now
Came up with a Vision Statement for the Committee:
“Making practical solutions that save $$$money and the environment.”
Committee elected Julie Moran to lead the meeting, record the minutes, keep documents and notices of conferences, other important information, and to notify members of meetings.
Actions to Pursue:
Next meeting: Monday, December 3, 2007 at 7:00 PM at KHEOPS
All:
1) Gather information regarding Recycling and Energy issues discussed
2) Email your info to Julie and Bring it to next meeting
3) Think about our “highly visible project for discussion at next meeting
Lenny Martel: continue his work on his Wind power for the town project
Bob Soucy:
1) Contact town clerk to get recycling update notices in Spring Tax bill mailing
2) Contact computer-recycling friend in Pittsburgh
3) Contact Kevin McKinnon, Rick Dube (W Stewartstown), Charlie Young (Lemington)
4) Ask Rick Tillotson and Danny Ouimette to join us next month
Julie:
1) Email Eric Stohl and Fred King to notify us of upcoming energy & recycling legislation
2) Email minutes to Dave Harris and Steve Learned of Balsam’s Green Team
3) Form a Publicity campaign – flyers, brochures, public notices
4) Get News articles into News and Sentinel – on Recycling and Energy Audits
5) Request Energy cost from Town records, for each town building, and send to Chris
6) Request fuel costs for each Town vehicle, and send to Chris
7) Suggest to Town to have NHPS do Energy audits on each Town building
8) Look into Grants available for large projects for town
9) Work on “highly visible” Recycling Project with Marie Josee
10) Enlist local community groups to each take a product and a month
Each Group does a different recycling project
Kiwanis, 4-H, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, Schools, Elders, quilt groups…
Marie Josee: School-Recycling Project
Name of Committee accepted: Energy & Environment Committee
New Members:
Lenny Martel
Julie Moran
David Belanger
Bob Soucy
Robert K Young
Danielle Ruelland
Members from previous Meeting:
Chris Gueymard
Darrell Beaulier
Ariana Corvellier
Marie Josee Vaillant
Donna Caron
Requested a copy of the minutes:
Steve Learned
Email from Donna Caron: Please send minutes to these Interested persons:
Dick Harris
April Hyde
Respectfully Submitted:
Julie Moran
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