Klattenberg, and team members John Hall, Jennifer Weymouth and Peter Staye took turns introducing the concepts. Klattenberg explained that adopting a strict energy efficiency and conservation policy, like one adopted by West Hartford, could realize great savings for Middletown.
Weymouth explained that it was essential that the entire city adopt a culture of conservation in which employees, students and residents work in teams to facilitate energy saving.
"Building a culture of conservation speaks to the heart of the plan, and the future of Middletown," Weymouth said.Hall spoke to the need for strict analysis of vehicle use by the city. He explained that there were many ways the city could save fuel, but that it was important to gather statistic before a plan was created. He explained that his own particular pet peeve was idling cars.
"People idle their cars to show that they're busy, or about to be busy," Hall said. He explained that he approached people on the street and asked them to shut down idling vehicles. "I've said it to many police officers," Hall said. "Some are completely sympathetic. Some are appalled, or maybe downright hostile."
Hall said that Wednesday morning observed a police SUV idling on the deck of the parking garage next to the police station. The car idled for 55 minutes, and then pulled up to a gas pump in the police yard for a fill-up.
Staye, who heads energy conservation for Wesleyan University explained that measurement was essential before controls could be implemented and savings realized. He explained that a centralized authority, in the person of an energy manager, is needed to pull disparate data and systems together.
Klattenberg finished the presentation and report, which will be delivered to the Common Council at their next meeting by urging the Council to establish an energy manager in the city, but his suggestion met resistance from Council member David Bauer."Every problem the city faces seems to have the solution of adding another job,' Bauer said.
Council member Gerry Daley concurred.
"This is not the right time to be growing government," Daley said. "That's part of the message in the Massachusetts vote yesterday."
Klattenberg and the task force were applauded for their efforts, and Klattenberg reinforced that the energy savings realized would more than pay for any costs of the program.
What is amazing to me is that Mr. Hall would actually sit there for almost an hour timing an idling vehicle. Now we have the idling police scrutinizing municipal vehicles. No wonder morale is down the toilet in this town. Very professional indeed.
ReplyDeleteOff base, Gordon. John Hall is a minister, and not a minister of state.
ReplyDeleteI can remember a time where Wesleyan was involved in helping the City with fuel saving vehicles, and reducing energy. They had this wonderful plan which caused the City to purchase vehicles that were "environmentally" friendly. The problem was these vehicles could not stand up to the rigors of public safety, road plowing, and everyday City use. It actually caused the City to double it's spending to replace these vehicles every couple years instead of getting ten or more out of them.
ReplyDeleteI find it interesting that someone would watch the PD for all that time. Yes, cruisers run a lot, and use a lot of fuel. Maybe we should be looking at alternative fuel sources for these vehicles, instead of making statements that these employees are "trying " to look busy. Honestly the Cops in this town, along with all municipal employees would love to help the taxpayers save money. Here's our first suggestion...have Wesleyan pay their fair share of taxes, then they can help with cost saving measures. I'm staying anonymous for a reason, I do not want retribution for my opinion!
Should it really take studies, statistics, or a new City employee to suggest/mandate that police vehicles and other City vehicles not be left idling for more than a minute or two? This is not a new idea. It might even be in the realm of common sense (and courtesy.)
ReplyDeleteHonestly, if the police and other municipal employees want to help the taxpayers save money, then they will always turn off their vehicles when they are not driving them except in the unusual instances when safety dictates otherwise. They are not lazy and wasteful, and they do not need to wait for Wesleyan to do any particular thing to do the right thing themselves. And the city, if it is paying any attention, will require it.
ReplyDelete