Reference Library

Local Energy Committees (also see Climate Change and Energy Efficient Development)

• Carbon Coalition - Resources for local energy committees in NH
• Local Energy Committees
• "Need for energy planning stressed"
  By Erin Plummer, June 5, 2008, citizen.com
  Community members and experts on the environment and energy recently gathered to share ideas at the area's first energy forum. The Lakes Region Energy Alliance on Tuesday held the first of what is expected to be a quarterly discussion between communities and experts in energy and the environment.
• "Energizing Ideas: The Emergence of Local Energy Committees"
• Small Grants for LEC Assistance
  The New England Grassroots Environment Fund (NEGEF) is designed to foster grassroots environmental initiatives in New England. In its last round, NEGEF funded all New Hampshire local energy committee’s (LECs) that submitted a grant application (a total of $9,350 to Wolfeboro, Plymouth, Gilford, Walpole and Durham).
• EPA Community Energy Challenge
  The EPA’s Community Energy Challenge is an opportunity for municipalities across New England to identify simple and cost-effective measures that increase energy efficiency and renewable energy use while reducing air pollution and saving money. To date 33 New Hampshire cities and towns are making use of this resource. Contact Shubhada Kambli, at 617.918.1584 or Kambli.Shubhada@epamail.epa.gov.
• Local Tools and Technical Assistance
  The Community Toolkit, the New Hampshire Handbook on Energy Efficiency and Climate Change (version 1) and more resources for town officials and volunteers can be found through the Local Energy Committee Working Group at the Carbon Coalition Web site. The free LEC e-Newsletter is also available for subscription.
• New Hampshire Community Energy Project
  The New Hampshire Community Energy Project is a Web site any LEC volunteer may contribute to and edit. The site is devoted to the distribution and sharing of mission statements, project examples, financing options, energy plans and the people and local energy committees in New Hampshire towns behind the work.
• Cool Monadnock
  Cool Monadnock is a three-year joint initiative between Clean Air-Cool Planet and Antioch New England Institute to achieve significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions in the Monadnock Region through local decisions and actions. Contact Christa Koehler at Clean Air-Cool Planet at 603.570. 7508 or ckoehler@cleanaircoolplanet.org.
• Granite State Energy Efficiency for School Buildings
  Granite State Energy Efficiency (GSE2) is a new energy assessment program that analyzes the energy use of school facilities. The resulting information helps school boards and administrators define, plan for and implement facility upgrade projects that reduce use of fossil fuels, cut greenhouse gas emissions and save scarce school dollars. Money saved can be used to repay the investments made in equipment upgrades and then be steered to other needs. To find out about GSE2 for schools, as well as project development and management services that include assessment of a range of financial options and expert guidance on “green” strategies for new and existing buildings in New Hampshire, contact Kirk Stone at the Jordan Institute at 603.226.1009, ext. 206, or kstone@nhphps.org.
• Portfolio Manager
  Available at EPA’s Energy Star Web site, Portfolio Manager is an interactive energy management tool that allows you to track and assess energy and water consumption across your entire portfolio of buildings in a secure online environment. Portfolio Manager can help you identify under-performing buildings, verify efficiency improvements and receive EPA recognition for superior energy performance. www.energystar.gov.
• Residential Greenhouse Gas Reductions
  Some LECs are seeking to serve residents of their communities directly. Housed at the University of New Hampshire, the New Hampshire Carbon Challenge (NHCC) can provide state residents with the information, tools and support necessary for households to reduce their residential carbon dioxide emissions by 10,000 pounds per year. Contact Julia Dundorf or Denise Blaha at 603.862.3128 or info@nhcc.unh.edu.