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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008 07 21 Referenced by John Baker During Regular 600Date: July 21, 2008 The attached document was referenced by Mr. John Baker during Regular Agenda Item "600" at the July 21, 2008 city Commission Workshop. Rising energy costs, alternative fuels, passive energy, water shortages and alternative water supplies, solar energy, wind energy, climate change, greenhouse gases, food shortages in some developing nations, workforce housing, locally grown food, carbon cap and trade (whereby a cap on carbon emissions is established and polluters can purchase pollution rights from more efficient industries) -these are becoming common issues in the news. Many of the things we recently regarded as waste or liabilities are becoming assets, such as used motor oil, cooking oil, storm-water, waste-water, concrete rubble, or methane gas from a landfill. The problems we face today are truly global. What happens in one place can affect many other places. The cumulative effect of our individual and collective actions is considered by many to be threatening the symbiosis we have with the planet earth and the rest of its inhabitants. There seems to be a general consensus within the scientific community that global climate change is real and that it is at least partially caused by human action. This consensus, however, does not exist within the political world. The public receives numerous mixed signals. Internationally renowned physicist and NASA scientist James Lovelock describes the current situation as follows: "Most of us think that something unpleasant may soon happen, but we are as confused as we were in 1938 over what form it will take and what to do about it. Our response so far is just like that before the Second World War, an attempt to appease. The Kyoto agreement was uncannily like that of Munich, with politicians out to show that they do respond but in reality playing for time. Because we are tribal animals, the tribe does not act in unison until a real and present danger is perceived." Sustainable development, incorporating mixed use, wallcable development with multi- modal options, low energy or renewable energy, low water use buildings are one potential to minimize our environmental footprint. Good examples can be found in Europe and Japan. More and more examples are happening in the US, with California leading the way. In 2006, California adopted its Million Solar Roofs Initiative, to remove unnecessary barriers to consumers interested in solar electricity, by allowing them to install whatever sized solar system they want and to require the power companies to purchase surplus power back from those consumers. Part of the initiative is aimed at increasing the economies of scale for solar power generation to bring down the cost of the units for the consumer - to make solar mainstream, reduce dependence on fossil fuels, and reduce air pollution -including greenhouse gas emissions. The program should ultimately create "green" jobs and provide clean/green energy. Last July, Gov. Crist signed 3broad-reaching executive orders to make state government and its agencies less energy dependent. This June, Governor Crist signed into effect HB 697 and HB 7135, which will dramatically change the energy efficiency standards in the Florida Building Code, mandate new comprehensive plan requirements to include energy and climate change policies, create new incentives for businesses expanding or creating new renewable energy facilities, enjoin deed restrictions or covenants from prohibiting solar collectors or clotheslines, require each Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) to integrate transportation and land use planning for sustainable development and greenhouse gases (GHG) reduction, require counties, municipalities, and school boards to incorporate some recognized green building standard (e.g. LEED, Green Globes, Florida Green Building Standards) into new construction or renovation. The FDEP is charged with developing a carbon cap and trade system, adopting California motor vehicle emissions standards, and developing a comprehensive recycling program to reduce solid waste disposal by 75 percent. The Public Service Commission is charged with developing renewable energy systems for participating customers. Conservation is the key strategy. While not as "catchy" as new technologies and biofuels, it is something that can begin immediately and increase incrementally in conjunction with new technologies. The cheapest unit of fossil fuel is the one not used. A recent Urban Land Institute publication stated repeatedly, "if you are not building green, you are building obsolete." We need to recognize that green building technology is coming to Seminole County. Lake Mary reports that one of the commerciaUoffice buildings at HBIC (Heathrow) will incorporate a number of green elements and that a new 5 acre development abutting 46A that is currently under review is aiming to achieve LEED platinum certification. In Oviedo, the new Public Works facility on Evans street that recently broke ground is designed to achieve a LEED Gold certification. We begin this evening with (1) about a 20 minute video on going green followed by (2) a presentation on LEED and green by Alaina Bernard and David Norvell from UCF and (3) a presentation by architect Bob Burke about a green building he designed. We have invited a wide cross-representation of professionals to this workshop (a custom home builder, design professionals, a commercial contractor, business owners, government employees, and community activists). We hope that all will join in a constructive question and answer session at the end of each presentation and a more general comment and response session at the end.