General Government - Town of Meredith

Energy Committee continued...
General Government
Energy Improvements to Municipal Buildings. Last year, MEC had energy audits conducted on five
municipal buildings. This year, MEC was able to start putting the recommendations from these audits into
place. Specifically, through a combination of energy grants and NHEC rebates, the Town was able to
complete lighting upgrades at the DPW garage and the recycling building in 2012. We will enjoy the
resulting energy benefits through savings on our tax bills in the years ahead.
The Town is planning additional energy upgrades (e.g., building envelope, mechanical systems, hot water,
etc.) to other buildings going forward. One of the best ways to incorporate energy efficiency in any
building – whether municipal, commercial, or residential – is when renovations are scheduled or existing
equipment nears its useful life. Including energy planning at these times – and in contingency plans if
emergencies arise – can provide significant cost savings.
Next Steps. MEC will continue to pursue strong public outreach efforts in 2013. A “Button-Up 201”
Workshop is already scheduled for January 26, 2013 at the Meredith Community Center. This workshop
will help residents weatherize and insulate their homes with a hands-on, how-to focus. A public event
demonstrating the capabilities of the Energy Services and Technology Program at the Lakes Region
Community College is also in the planning stages. MEC also plans to initiate closer collaboration with
other local energy committees in the Lakes Region. Several strong town energy committees are now
operating, and they should be able to benefit from each other’s ideas and experiences.
A major MEC focus for 2013 will be the scheduled update of Meredith’s Community Plan. The new plan
will have an energy chapter, which should identify overall ways to advance energy efficiency, save energy
costs, and boost energy independence for Meredith. Perhaps even more importantly, we anticipate that
energy-related issues and opportunities will be incorporated into each of the other chapters as appropriate.
As such, precise sector-specific suggestions and recommendations can be made to contribute to these
goals. MEC attended the Planning Board’s initial workshop to identify existing conditions and issues as
part of its process to update the Community Plan.
Three members of the MEC retired in 2012, and we thank Phil McCormack, Wendy Bagley, and DJ
Quagliaroli for their contributions. Peter Brothers, who helped bring MEC into reality and has contributed
greatly to its accomplishments, also stepped down as Selectmen’s Representative. Nate Torr is our new
Selectmen’s Representative. We have also added two immensely knowledgeable and helpful members,
Deborah Crosby and Christopher Wald to the Committee. The MEC also thanks John Edgar and Angela
LaBrecque for their extraordinary staff work assisting the Committee.
Anyone interested in learning more about the work of the MEC is encouraged to visit our web page or
contact me at 603-279-0770.
Submitted by: Ken Colburn, Chair, Meredith Energy Committee
2012 Annual Report 33