Yellow Wood Associates, Inc.228 North Main Street

St. Albans, Vermont 05478(802) 524-6141 (802) 524-6643 Fax

www.yellowwood.org

Innovators in rural development since 1985.

Helping clients discover their development choices.

www.yellowwood.org

The Problem:“Inadequate public infrastructure is viewed as

the most significant roadblock to economic development in small town and rural America.”-- The Pulse of Small Town and Rural America, Report from the National Association of Development Organizations Research Foundation eForum (August 30, 2004 national focus group of 210 regional development professionals supported by the Kellogg Foundation)

The Green Community TechnologiesSM Process

1. GASB 34 Compliant Inventory and Assessment of Infrastructure Assets

2. Identify Areas to Explore with Local Decision-makers

3. Research Alternative Technologies and Present Findings

4. Assist Communities to Implement Appropriate Alternatives

Systems/Holistic Approach

• Design: Green Buildings, Low Impact Development, Green Infrastructure

• Hardware: Biomass, Alternative Energy, Highly Efficient Equipment/Machinery

• Behaviors: Conservation, Operations, Management

Energy Production – Hull, Massachusetts is using a 150-

foot-high wind turbine to run the town’s street and traffic lights and saving $130,000 a year on electricity bills.

Essex Junction, Vermont is using new technology at its wastewater plant to burn methane gas to generate electricity. Savings are expected to be $30,000 a year.

Energy Efficiency –

Newton, Massachusetts invested $130,000 in energy efficient lighting in 38 municipal buildings and is saving $60,000 a year on electricity bills.

Medford and Brookline, among others, are saving tens of thousands of dollars a year by replacing their traffic lights with energy efficient traffic lamps, which use 80 percent to 90 percent less energy.

Water Conservation –

Augusta, Maine promoted water conservation and saved $3.5 million through reducing the size of new filtration and storage facilities, cutting the average residential water bill by $73 a year.

Heat Production –

28 schools in Vermont now heat with wood biomass, which has increased comfort, supported improvements in indoor air quality, lowered costs, and benefited the local economy.

Some schools are saving $40,000 + per year. District energy systems, which send heat generated by biomass through underground pipes to multiple buildings, are in use in government complexes in Montpelier and Waterbury, Vermont.

St. Paul, Minnesota uses a district energy system to heat 75% of its downtown.

Fuel Conservation –

The City of San Diego Refuse Disposal Division saved $868,000 in heavy equipment and diesel rates by shutting off equipment during breaks and lunch periods.

This opportunity was discovered through an environmental management system (EMS) approach developed by EPA.

• Uses a facility-wide digital control system

• Fiber optic day lighting• Solar thermal system for water

heating• Auto dimming fluorescent

lights• Recycled content materials• LEED Green Building Rating

System Certified.

Green Building – ECHO Center, Burlington, VT

The Green Community TechnologiesSM

Inventory and Assessment provides:

Systematic overview of all your assets, their condition and the extent to which they are meeting current and future needsTool for long-term asset managementInformation necessary for GASB 34 compliance

We also use the Green Community TechnologiesSM Inventory process to identify opportunities for alternative approaches.

Research Alternatives

• What are they?• Where have they been used effectively?• What are the economic, environmental and social benefits and drawbacks?• Which technologists are doing this type of work?• What are the life cycle costing implications?• What is most appropriate for this municipality?

Implement Appropriate Alternatives

• Performing due diligence with different technology providers– Interviewing providers and checking references

• Assisting in finding funding for technologies and/or determining financing options.

• Monitoring implementation• Evaluating impacts and establishing recordkeeping

systems.

Voice of:Rocky Martin, DirectorDepartment of Building and Facilities, Hinesburg

Alternatives Research

Voice of:Ron Rodjenski, Richmond Town Administrator

Inventory and Assessment

Life Cycle Cost Analysis

Process of considering alternative which satisfy all performance requirements (e.g. code, safety, comfort, and reliability requirements) based on all costs spent over the life of the longest lived alternative.

The alternative with the lowest LCC over a given period of time is the most cost-effective choice.

These costs include: • Purchase price• Operation and maintenance costs• Replacement costs for shorter lived alternatives• Salvage and/or disposal costs if any

Some Examples:• alternative methods of sewage processing • stormwater source reduction • highly efficient pumps and motors • energy audits and renovation for historic buildings • alternative fuels for town vehicles • repair of underground water lines• green building components for new construction• best practices for municipal garage management

How can we help you?

Call us to discuss how we can move ahead together. We look forward to your call.

This project is

supported by the Small

Business Innovation

Research program of

the U.S. Department of

Agriculture, grant

number # 2004-33610

15010.