Let’s build an energy efficient middle school that saves us all money!
And let’s build a healthy vibrant learning environment for our children!
Please attend the Harrisonburg City Council meeting Tuesday, February 11, 7:00PM
Here’s the scoop:
The City is building a new middle school and renovating Thomas Harrison Middle School. These projects are expected to cost over $40 million dollars. When spending money on public buildings, the City should spend dollars on energy efficiency and energy production (solar and geothermal) that will reduce energy use in the buildings. The city will do this if enough of us ask for it.
>>> Please plan on attending the City Council meeting next week, Tuesday, February 11, 7:00 pm at Council Chambers at 409 S. Main Street.
During the public comments session, which is very early on the agenda (so be there by 7:00 pm) people who are City residents should go to the microphone and urge the City Council to allocate money for schools that are efficient and healthy buildings. If you are not comfortable speaking in public, please show up to lend your support. Let’s fill the council chambers so they get the point.
The talking points include any of the following ideas, some of which are the same concept just discussed in more detail:
- The City should spend money building a high performance building: an energy efficient building that is a healthy building where students can get a high quality education. The buildings should use natural light, should be energy efficient, and should be full of healthy, comfortable spaces to work and learn in.
- Energy efficiency saves dollars. The City should allocate more money in upfront costs to save operating costs in the future.
- Energy production – solar and geothermal should be used as a hedge against future energy costs.
- Locating a new middle school close to the high school is a good idea because of the savings that result from that proximity.
- A LEED certified energy efficient building contributes to the health and well being of the facility and those using it. LEED contributes to better indoor air quality, lower utility bills, and flexible vibrant spaces.
- We should be spending money on public building projects by discussing the energy per sq. foot of various designs, including energy efficiency measures and on-site energy production, computing the annual energy and maintenance costs for the different designs, and then comparing the annual cost savings to the debt servicing cost of the difference in initial cost of the designs
- The life cycle cost of a building should be used to determine how to spend our tax dollars. Whether paying for debt servicing or paying for utility or maintenance costs, the money each year comes from our budget. A higher initial capital cost for a building that results in greater cost savings in the future is a wise choice.
Please come out and ask the City Council to do what should be done.
The way to get them to do this is to show up and tell them what we want!
More about this campaign here.
Climate Action Alliance of the Valley 