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MEAC Presentation to MRPS Facilities and Energy Committee (Oct 2022)

Updated 2021 Energy Numbers and Summarized Recommendations

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Recommendations Summary

  • Study done by VEIC on behalf of city and school district
  • Caveats:
    • Study done in 2019-early 2020
    • Assumptions are based on fuel prices at the time. #2 heating oil price has since more than doubled.
    • Did not factor in federal or state incentives available, as it was unclear when projects for the city or school district would be undertaken – and the incentives have changed since then.
  • Focus on Thermal and Transportation areas

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VEIC Recommendations for Electric

No recommendations. The amount of solar already installed, combined with Green Mountain Power’s plans to be net zero by 2030, means there are no further actions that need to be taken.

💯

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VEIC Recommendations for Thermal

Recommendations based on renewable option with the shortest payback period. By this measure, a dry chip boiler was the best option for heating the whole buildings.

SCHOOL

RECOMMENDATION

ESTIMATED CAPITAL COST

ANNUAL SAVINGS

SIMPLE PAYBACK (YEARS)

MHS

Dry chip boiler

$585K

$32K

18

MSMS

Dry chip boiler

$370K

$23K

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Options considered

Source

Measure life (years)

Capital Cost Range (per mmBtu/hr)

Notes

Cold climate air source heat pumps

15

$400-450K

Heating and cooling only, typically 50-90% of space heating load

Ground source heat pumps

20

$700-800K

Heating, cooling, and hot water (typically 100%)

Dry chip boiler

30

$250-275K

100% of heating and hot water.

Wood pellet boiler

30

$200-250K

100% of heating and hot water

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Ground Source Heat Pumps

Ground source heat pumps were also found to be a viable choice for the schools given the space constraints, however, given the high capital cost, there were no annual savings to be gleaned.

If capital costs could be reduced, this picture could change.

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VEIC Recommendations for Transportation�(Keep previous caveats in mind)

  • Switch to EVs for high-mileage, light-duty vehicles when the need to replace arises.
  • For mid-range annual mileage the cost savings may not be there yet, but expect they will be if replaced by 2030.
  • Medium and heavy-duty EVs (e.g., buses) which require higher powered chargers not likely to provide a payback by 2030
    • Switch to B20 fuel now and transition to renewable diesel as supply becomes available in VT
  • May want to consider offsets for lower mileage vehicles
  • No recommendations about encouraging biking, carpooling, walking, etc. – measures to guide individual behaviors were not in the study’s purview.