Scribe: Benjamin Convener: Earl Martin Location: Dave’s Taverna Time: 1:30pm
Attendees: Ralph Graves, Thomas Deguer, Johann Zimmerman, Daniel Brumbaugh-Keeney, Harvey Yoder, Pete Bsumek, Leah Rosenwasser, Charlie Strickler, John Reeves, Troy Lucas, Liem Doan, Kurt Rosenberger, Adam Campbell, Earl Martin, Sam Nickels, Suzi Carter, Benjamin Meredith, Welby Lehman, Charles Hendricks
Tom: interested in learning about insulation, came from Baltimore to be here, how does citizens of Harrisonburg take car of local problems
Adam: interested in taking part of the initiative, has done some energy assessments
Johanne: funding issues to weatherize buildings for needy, energy company initiatives? Cut demand by weatherization was a strategy as opposed to building a new plant. Combine with a youth employment job training strategy
Daniel: community works hire homeless folks to do this kind of work
Harvey: reduction in new construction, are there additional people looking for work that could help with insulating
Sam: Food Co-op – grant writing, stimulus money
Pete: Sierra Club, rise in people being kicked out of their houses because of the rise in energy costs, state bill to fund weatherization programs,
Leah: office on children and youth, program for job skills training, youth build, low income families home assistance interests, relationships between housing authority and JMU, Gus Bus as a communication tool
Troy: Lucas roasting company, solar technology as it can be utilized in winter to help heat homes, supplement heating costs, habitat for humanity – money to buy materials, need creative thinking
Welby: architect, habitat for humanity volunteer, energy efficient mortgages, can financial sector still make these available, roll efficiency improvements into a mortgage,
Charlie:Habitat relief work, willing to help
John: rebuilding together, home rehab and repair, Christmas in april – old name, funding from foundations and churches, get referrals from folks with small trailers, need help getting insulation up to par, volunteers that work with church groups to do the work,
Benjamin: home inspection company and energy audit company, do this everyday all day long, spark in Charlottesville works with low income groups to do energy audits, need to increase building science understanding.
There is a movement to get a group together to coordinate local volunteers and efforts for weatherization. SPARK will be a good starting point to find out if there is local money available to do the easy things. Recognize the small items that you can do to increase energy efficiency. Find extra money for larger projects in the future.
Low interest loans for weatherization from banks? Is there a creative approach to get money.
USDA and other funds that are available through non-profit organizations that are essentially low income loan funds – HRHA is shutting down right now. There may be a way to tap into these programs in order to benefit the community. Need to be willing to put staff resources into the effort.
The Housing authority of Hburg is rehabbing to earthcraft standards. More energy efficient, comfortable for those inhabitats. They are ahead of the curve, thank them.
Earthcraft energy bills are extremely low. Small changes make a huge difference.
Let’s start an internal group that keeps this effort going forward.
Valley program for aging services – creates all the referrals for rebuilding together.
Are there any standard for measuring energy efficiency? Leakage amounts? There is nothing in place for existing construction.
