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Introduction
High heating bills burden the poor and cause homelessness in Amherst. The poor, elderly and handicapped are disproportionately affected by the cost of heating (as a percentage of income) and Amherst residents are facing homelessness because of it.
The Energy Facilitation Outreach (EFO) worker position will allow the poor, elderly, and handicapped to obtain the services and funding that they are entitled to under the law, while establishing energy efficiency as a priority in Amherst. Funding will run out on December 31, and we must act now.
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Presentation to Amherst Town Meeting, May 12, 2010
Harrison Gregg, Moderator
Citizen's Petition: To create the position of
Energy Faciliation Outreach worker in Amherst (Collins)
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1. Dedication
2. Warrant No. 19, submitted to Amherst Town Meeting
3. Need Statement
4. Proposal: how would this work?
5. Amherst Finance Committee Acknowledgement
6. How many houses in Amherst?
7. What will the financial benefit be?
8. Why can't I just call CET?
9. What about the energy committee
10. How would this work? - UMass Extension Service Faculty Position
11. Why can't we use other sources to fund this position?
12. Acknowledgements
13. Sources and links - learn about energy efficiency resources in Massachusetts
Note: click on images to see source
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1. Dedication
You may have known my Mom, Pat Tompkins.
Mom was on the Board of the United Way, worked at HCAC. After her heart attack, she moved into Ann Whalen House where she saw a need in the aging population. So she wrote a little $20,000 grant to start the Wellness Program.
In cooperation with the UMass Nursing School, residents are brought together with nursing students, supervised by faculty, to give health counseling and provide a basic service. The program has grown into a Support Services Program, with a Coordinator and a dedicated facility, which brings services to the residents rather than having them travel.
What I propose is a Wellness Program -- for our aging housing stock!
Kevin Collins
Amherst, Mass.
Amherst Housing Authority Wellness Program - Model
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SOURCE: AMHERST HOUSING AUTHORITY ANNUAL REPORT 2009
Peter Jessop, Chair
Jean Haggerty, Vice Chair
Judy Brooks, Treasurer
Robert Phillips, Assistant Treasurer
Joan Logan, Member
Donna Crabtree, Executive Director
Town of Amherst, MA Energy Conservation
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2. Need Statement
The poor, elderly and handicapped are disproportionately affected by the cost of heating (four times more as a percentage of income) than the average Amherst homeowner. Massachusetts has some of the highest energy prices in the United States, which most affects those who can least afford them. The Energy Facilitation Outreach (EFO) worker would actively obtain weatherization services in Amherst by providing a one-stop office for energy upgrades. The EFO would provide assistance in coordinating audits, weatherization and rehab, and loans, rebates and incentives, as well as providing a central contact for regular, on-going community education.
The EFO will help bring together homeowners, landlords, agencies, funders, and service providers so that homes in Amherst's aging housing stock are brought up to standard, starting with those most in need.
It was Dave Damery at UMass, who said, "Information and resources on weatherization and building rehabilitation in this area are scattered, hard to find, and difficult to obtain." The EFO position will be developed in cooperation with the UMass Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation Extension Service, who will offer technical assistance and give workshops. The purpose of this collaboration is to develop a template for other towns in the state, establishing Amherst as a center of knowledge and know-how.
Cost of Energy in Amherst, 2008
Amherst Energy Budget - ABSTRACT
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SOURCE: U.S. Department of Energy Report No. DOE/EIS-0226(2010003)
Western Massachusetts Electric Company WMECO - Amherst energy use in 2008
Town of Amherst, MA Energy Conservation
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3. Proposal -- How would this work?
OUTREACH:
In order to provide a long-term solution for home owners and home renters, the Assessor's database would be mined for homes that meet the basic guidelines for various benefits including age, improvements (e.g. when was the last time a furnace was installed), number of occupants vs. energy use, etc.
Starting with the most likely, this data would be correlated with various available programs and funding sources and a proposal generated for each building, including the savings to be had from each proposed improvement.
FACILITATION:
Property owners would recieve a menu of providers for the services for which they are eligible. They would then recieve assistance obtaining an energy audit, help with applicatons and paperwork, and with the hiring of contractors and getting inspections.
Example of a centralized housing energy office: Arlington, MA
In contrast to Western Mass., services in Arlington are centralized.
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SOURCE: Town of Arlington Weatherization and Housing Rehabilitation
Town of Amherst, MA Energy Conservation
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4. Amherst Finance Committee Acknowledgement
I would like to thank the Finance Committee for giving serious consideration to my petition. You asked good questions about the affect of energy costs on the poor, elderly and handicapped, which I have tried to answer in the following pages.
Watch the Amherst Finance Committee 03-25-10 meeting on Vimeo
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SOURCE: Town of Amherst Finance Committee
Town of Amherst, MA Energy Conservation
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5. How many houses are there in Amherst?
That is a good question. Think of our property base as our endowment. The Town of Amherst has a two billion dollar endowment. It has lasted 250 years, will we pass it on in as good of shape as we got it?
Amherst has about 9,100 housing units. Out of those, 1,023 are low-income units. Amherst has the ninth highest low-income housing percentage in Western Mass.
Low-income residents are disproportionately affected by the cost of energy. As a percentage of income, your average heating cost is 4% of income. For the poor, the cost as percentage of income is four times that.
As Andy Steinberg pointed out, heating bills are often an underlying cause of evictions.
Source: Mass.gov Resident Housing Energy and Utilities
Town of Amherst, MA Energy Conservation
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6. What will the financial benefit be?
a) This position will facilitate home energy retrofits and upgrades, thereby promoting Amherst's energy goals.
b) The upgrades will increase the value of the property-base through simultaneous reductions in the energy usage moving forward.
c) Assessed values will rise.
d) Tax revenues will rise.
Owners get lower energy bills, free services, cash subsidies, tax incentives, and interest-free loans.
Our out-of-work neighbors get jobs.
Low-income residents spend a smaller percentage of income on heat. There are fewer homeless Amherst residents.
SOURCE: Financing Guidebook for Energy Efficiency Program Sponsors
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7. Can't I just call CET and get an energy assessment?
Yes, you can -- but many others cannot.
Although many homeowners do not need a special program, an energy-efficiency program provides three important benefits:
First, when low interest rates are offered, special financing can be a promotional hook to attract homeowners' interest and participation in energy upgrades.
Second, when structured as a simple transaction with reduced paperwork and time delays, this program can help contractors close deals and encourage greater homeowner follow-through.
Third, the program provides a mechanism for the town to achieve important energy goals, such as requiring a comprehensive assessment, using only pre-screened and trained contractors, and installing recommended efficiency measures.
CET: The 23 Steps to Obtain an Energy Loan and Improvement?
What out-of-town landlord would go through that?
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SOURCE: Center for Ecological Testing
For free energy assessment in Amherst, Mass.
call the CET at (413) 586-7350
Town of Amherst, MA Energy Conservation
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8. What about the energy committee? Why isn't this coming from them?
The "energy committee" in Amherst is The Energy Conservation Task Force.
The Energy Task Force is in year six of a seven-year task, working towards educating the community at large about energy conservation efforts.
The Energy Coordinator's job is to coordinate the meetings of the Energy Task force, such as scheduling the room and making copies.
The fact is, we currently do not have a specified energy manager who works for the Town. The most knowledgeable person about residential building energy in Amherst is, of course, an intern...
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Energy Task Force
Jason Burbank, University of Massachusetts
Aaron Hayden, Amherst College
Julie Johnson, Hitchcock Center for the Environment
Rob Snyder, Amherst Resident
Diana Stein, Amherst Select Board
Susan Waite, Amherst Recycling
Stephanie Ciccarello, Coordinator
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Source: Town of Amherst, MA, Conservation Department, Energy Conservation & Climate Protection
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9. How would this work?
Services in Western Mass. are scattered across four counties. The EFO would bring together many resources including the UMASS Extension Service's Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation (NREC) Program recently funded position in Building Energy. I talked to Dave Damery at the UMass Department of Natural Resources Conservation. Dave is Director of Building and Construction Technology and he said they could complement each other.
Dave said, "Information and resources on weatherization and building rehabilitation in this area are scattered, hard to find, and difficult to obtain." This proposal would provide a one-stop office for Amherst residents locate services, financing, and quality contractors, and get inspections.
Amherst would be a leader in energy efficiency, providing a template for other towns in Massachusetts.
Source: Dave Damery, Director of Building and Construction Technology, UMass Department
of Natural Resources Conservation
Town of Amherst, MA Energy Conservation
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10. Why can't we use other sources to fund this position?
You could, and it is likely that other sources could be found. But these economic stimulus funds have a sunset of December 31, 2010. And we must act now.
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American Economic Recovery Act Weatherization -- expires December 31
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Massachusetts = $125,220,000
Massachusetts Economic Recovery Impact Fact Sheet
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Source: Massachusetts Economic Recovery Impact Fact Sheet
Maybe you can find other sources, and you don't have to actually spend the money I am asking for.
This proposal is a commitment to do something about the disproportionate affect of energy costs on the poor, elderly, and handicapped, now.
By creating this position, Amherst property owners, in-town and out-of-town, will know that we are committed, as a Town, to eliminating one of the major causes of homelessness among the poor, elderly and handicapped in Amherst, now.
Thank you for you time and consideration.
Best wishes to you and your family.
Kevin Collins
Amherst
Town of Amherst, MA Energy Conservation
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Thanks to
Stephanie O’Keefe & Amherst Select Board
Andy Steinberg & the Finance Committee
Aaron Hayden, Doris Stein, & The Energy Task Force
Eva Cashdan and Peggy Roberts of the Amherst League of Women Voters
Paul Fisette, Department Head, UMass Natural Resources Conservation
Dave Damery, UMass NRC Building Construction & Technology
Ken Garber, Western Mass Electric Company
Larry Shaffer, Amherst Town Manager
John Musante, Asst. Town Manager
Stephanie Cicarello, Amherst Energy Task Force Coordinator
Mike Olkin, Amherst GIS Administrator
Kris Pacunas, Amherst Director of Information Technology
The thoughtful engineers, builders, doctors, professors and Amherst residents
who thought this worth doing and signed my petition
My students and their parents & families
Thank you for your support
Town of Amherst, MA Energy Conservation
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Made with love
Copyright 2010 Kevin Collins
All rights reserved
Town of Amherst, MA Energy Conservation
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