SERC Presentation to the Grand Forks Historic Preservation Commission, Jan 25th, 2011

1. Sustainable Energy
Resources for
Consumers (SERC)
Presentation to Grand Forks
Historic Preservation Commission
January 25th, 2011

2. Summary
Created for weatherization agencies to install
technologies that have promise for energy
savings but cannot currently be installed under
Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP)
U.S. Department of Energy Program
Recovery Act Funds

3. Priorities of SERC
Cost-effectiveness to low-and moderate-income
families
Potential for replication of successful results
Impact on health and safety and energy costs
Extent of partnerships, including financial
partnerships

4. Only 45 SERC Grants
Awarded
RRVCA is the only grant recipient in the Dakotas
Total of 101 Local Agencies in 27 States
participating in SERC

6. Geographic Areas to
be Served
RRVC service area: GF, Nelson, Pembina &
Walsh
Particular focus on the Mayor’s Urban
Neighborhood Initiative (MUNI)

7. Overview of MUNI
MUNI aims to rehabilitate low-moderate income
homes in Grand Forks
Includes older neighborhoods (Near North-Side,
Near South-Side)
Important affordable housing resource
HomeCents is also focused on the MUNI

8. Eligibility
Owner-occupied homes
HUD’s low-moderate income guidelines
Same criteria used for HomeCents

9. Income Limits
Household Grand
Nelson Pembina Walsh
size Forks
1 $35,750 $31,300 $35,800 $32,850
2 $40,850 $35,800 $40,900 $37,550
3 $45,950 $40,250 $46,000 $42,250
4 $51,050 $44,700 $51,100 $46,900
5 $55,150 $48,300 $55,200 $50,700

10. RRVC’s SERC Strategy
Cold-weather tested technologies
Focus on reducing heating bills
Renewable electricity technologies not worth
focusing on since they don’t perform as well
on a residential scale and our rates are already
low
Sustain clean energy beyond lifetime of this grant

11. RRVC’s SERC Projects
Shelter (variety of approaches)
Geothermal Energy
Solar Powered Furnaces
Hybrid Electric Heat Pump Water Heaters
Solar Thermal Water Heaters
Solar Powered Furnace Installation Training
Washers, dryers, windows, and more

12. Geothermal Energy
High initial cost, but good in cold climates
Can reduce energy bills significantly
Meets multiple needs
heating
cooling
hot water

13. Geothermal Energy
Dig vertical loop wells: 150-450’ below surface
Historic issue: trees
digging can mess w/ roots
RRVCA will mitigate, talk to Mike Fugazzi
Perspective: SERC will only do a handful of
geothermal, therefore, may not end up being
applied on a home w/ historic considerations.

15. Solar Powered Furnaces
Can supplement 20-30% of heating needs
Fairly low cost
Vertically-mounted on side of home
1-2 4x10 panels for avg home
Surface is black, trim can be painted
Otter Tail-Wadena CAP has experience

16. Solar Thermal
Water Heaters
For homes using electric water heaters
RRVCA expects to install units on 2-4 homes
Roof-top or ground mount (on a frame)
Generally supplement 50% of hot water needs
in northern climates

18. Historic Home(work)
NAPC model ordinances
Spoke to Brian Ross - (Minneapolis, Germany)
Spoken w/ Jason Coughlin at NREL
report to be released soon
Met with Peg

19. Main Take Aways
Don't do anything blatantly stupid
Avoid locating panels in view of street
Avoid alteration to historic materials
Reversibility is a key issue
Go through the process and keep the
Commission informed

20. Process/Considerations
Refer to maps of historic districts
Refer to list of historic homes
Don't sign contracts or do work before doing the
106 review
Use common sense!

21. Contact
Jason Schaefer
Clean Energy Coordinator
701.746.5431(w) | 701.741.0709(c)
<jschaefer@rrvca.com>
www.rrvca.com | rrvca.areavoices.com/serc/