Tybee Island was fortunate to receive a grant that has already reduced the City's energy consumption. |
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| Energy Matters |
Around this time, every couple of years, folks on Tybee Island begin to be bombarded with all
kinds of myths, misstatements and downright wrong information. This is usually related to local
campaigns and is generally an attempt to create issues where there may be none.
In an attempt to address some of the current topics that are out there, we have done research
and compiled the following information. We believe it states the myths and the truth.
The Chatter:
You may have heard that .... the energy improvements made on City buildings during the
past year were a waste of money by the City.
The Reality:
The reality is that even though the energy saving project improvements are not yet complete,
the energy savings average 20%.
Paul Wolff wrote the grant that funded this savings. Paul does not charge for his grant writing
and no City money was spent on this project. The purpose of the GEFA grant awarded to
Tybee is to provide energy savings through conservation, renewable energy generation, and
educational and financial resources for the City of Tybee Island, residents, and business
owners.
Successful implementation of the project will yield long-term savings to taxpayers, because
electric bills paid by the city's general fund will be lower, and property owners will be able to
borrow money at low interest for energy efficiency improvements to their homes and
businesses.
The project is being implemented in 3 phases:
1. Energy retrofits to the 6 city buildings in Memorial Park:
• city hall
• gym
• cafeteria
• old school
• YMCA,
• fire department administration building.
These efficiency improvements include:
2. The money saved through these improvements (compared to a 2008 baseline) will be
placed in a budget line item to create a revolving loan fund that will be used to add renewable
generation systems (photovoltaic solar panels and/or wind turbines) with the intent of
producing as much energy as the buildings in the park consume. This fund will be used for city
projects for up to 10 years.
3. After 10 years the fund will be available for low-interest loans to Tybee residents and
business owners on a first-come, first-served basis for energy improvements to their
properties. Since repayment of these loans will be maintained within the revolving loan fund, it
will be self-perpetuating, so the entire island can become more energy-efficient far into the
future.
Last year City Council formed the Community Resource Committee to identify areas where the
city, residents, and businesses could conserve resources and save money in such areas as
water, solid waste, energy, transportation, etc. The members of the CRC represent a diverse
cross-section of the Tybee population, and they've been instrumental in moving the island
toward a more sustainable future.
. The energy subcommittee has taken on the task of monitoring the results of the GEFA grant
and suggesting how we can achieve maximum benefit from the improvements made to city
buildings. They are also looking at ways to save energy island-wide.
An average energy savings of 20% has already been realized even though all the
improvements have not yet been made. The 20% is an unweighted average, meaning that the
usage of the buildings, when averaged, was on the same basis. Note that usage at the large
buildings was "waaay down", which means more savings. Even though the Fire Department
Administration building was way up, the overall usage was very low.
The amount of energy saved is demonstrated by the charts below.
It's important to realize, though, that maximum savings depends upon behavioral changes by
staff and people using the City buildings. This is especially true of buildings managed by the
YMCA, including the gym, because these buildings are so large and the City pays the utilities
for these buildings.
kinds of myths, misstatements and downright wrong information. This is usually related to local
campaigns and is generally an attempt to create issues where there may be none.
In an attempt to address some of the current topics that are out there, we have done research
and compiled the following information. We believe it states the myths and the truth.
The Chatter:
You may have heard that .... the energy improvements made on City buildings during the
past year were a waste of money by the City.
The Reality:
The reality is that even though the energy saving project improvements are not yet complete,
the energy savings average 20%.
Paul Wolff wrote the grant that funded this savings. Paul does not charge for his grant writing
and no City money was spent on this project. The purpose of the GEFA grant awarded to
Tybee is to provide energy savings through conservation, renewable energy generation, and
educational and financial resources for the City of Tybee Island, residents, and business
owners.
Successful implementation of the project will yield long-term savings to taxpayers, because
electric bills paid by the city's general fund will be lower, and property owners will be able to
borrow money at low interest for energy efficiency improvements to their homes and
businesses.
The project is being implemented in 3 phases:
1. Energy retrofits to the 6 city buildings in Memorial Park:
• city hall
• gym
• cafeteria
• old school
• YMCA,
• fire department administration building.
These efficiency improvements include:
- • new lighting
• occupancy sensors
• spray-foam insulation
• sealing and/or replacing or adding doors and windows
• smart thermostats
• ceiling fan in city hall auditorium
(fan's "wind chill factor" allows thermostat to be set 6-8 degrees higher for A/C
to achieve the same comfort level as a lower setting.)
• air lock between gym floor and office space, so the basketball court doesn't have
to be heated and cooled when unoccupied.
2. The money saved through these improvements (compared to a 2008 baseline) will be
placed in a budget line item to create a revolving loan fund that will be used to add renewable
generation systems (photovoltaic solar panels and/or wind turbines) with the intent of
producing as much energy as the buildings in the park consume. This fund will be used for city
projects for up to 10 years.
3. After 10 years the fund will be available for low-interest loans to Tybee residents and
business owners on a first-come, first-served basis for energy improvements to their
properties. Since repayment of these loans will be maintained within the revolving loan fund, it
will be self-perpetuating, so the entire island can become more energy-efficient far into the
future.
Last year City Council formed the Community Resource Committee to identify areas where the
city, residents, and businesses could conserve resources and save money in such areas as
water, solid waste, energy, transportation, etc. The members of the CRC represent a diverse
cross-section of the Tybee population, and they've been instrumental in moving the island
toward a more sustainable future.
. The energy subcommittee has taken on the task of monitoring the results of the GEFA grant
and suggesting how we can achieve maximum benefit from the improvements made to city
buildings. They are also looking at ways to save energy island-wide.
An average energy savings of 20% has already been realized even though all the
improvements have not yet been made. The 20% is an unweighted average, meaning that the
usage of the buildings, when averaged, was on the same basis. Note that usage at the large
buildings was "waaay down", which means more savings. Even though the Fire Department
Administration building was way up, the overall usage was very low.
The amount of energy saved is demonstrated by the charts below.
It's important to realize, though, that maximum savings depends upon behavioral changes by
staff and people using the City buildings. This is especially true of buildings managed by the
YMCA, including the gym, because these buildings are so large and the City pays the utilities
for these buildings.
| Forever Tybee Candidate Parties in the Park coming on November 4, 5, 6 |
Please note: You can download this information as a pdf file by clicking here. It is easier to read.
