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Hailey Environmental Leadership Program (H.E.L.P.)

Current News

Sustainable Building - Energy Efficient Building Construction
Bring Savings and Rapid Payback

Buildings are responsible for about half of U.S. energy consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions annually and are growing faster than any other sector, including transportation. Forty-nine percent of total annual U.S. GHG emissions and 72 percent of U.S. electricity consumption happen in buildings. Residential and commercial structures account for one-third of all natural gas consumption and the majority of electricity use in the U.S. The U.S. Department of Energy projects U.S. energy demand to grow by 11% by 2030, based on extrapolation of current trends. While we will not likely see an end to traditional energy resources by that date, supply and demand will most likely drive the cost of energy up. Most buildings have a life span of about 75 years. Assuming that buildings built today will be around for about 75 years, it is important to plan for the future of energy and increased energy costs. This creates an opportunity to significantly reduce energy usage at the time a building is designed and constructed. Data gathered on energy efficient buildings suggest that a 15-30% reduction in energy usage (that is a 15-30% increase in savings, which stays in a utility payer’s pocket every month) for new construction can be achieved for 0-2% of additional up front costs and the payback (measured by how much money is saved on energy bills) is less than 4
years.

Energy Efficiency Kits Available

Energy efficiency kits are available in Idaho’s public libraries for checkout to cardholders. Kits include a kill-a-watt energy meter, instructions and efficiency tips. Kits are available for a one-week checkout. The kits are provided through a partnership between Idaho Power, Rocky Mountain Power, Avista Utilities and the Idaho Commission for Public Libraries. For more information please call the library at 788-2036 or visit the library online at www.haileypubliclibrary.org.

Just Bag It! Hits Mid-Year Stride

The Just Bag It! project is just about midway through its
one-year schedule

Activities still to come:
• YouTube video contest (now accepting entries!) http://www.haileycityhall.org/HELP/JustBagIt.asp
• Temporary public art display (July!)
• Bag Free Day Proclamation (July!)
• School logo contest and bags (September/October!)
• Updated Just Bag It! web page (June!)
• Display ads recognizing partners and participants
(October and December!)
Contact project manager Elizabeth Jeffrey at makeitgreen@me.com for more information.
This project has been funded wholly or in part by the United States
Environmental Protection Agency under assistance agreement X1-
00J05301 to City of Hailey. The contents of this document do not
necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Environmental
Protection Agency, nor does mention of trade names or commercial
products constitute endorsement or recommendation for use.

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Introduction

About HELP

The Hailey Environmental Leadership Program is an advisory committee providing practical information, leadership, and the means of measurable change for city government and the community, in ongoing efforts to combat climate change and protect the environment.

Help's Creation

The HELP committee was created to implement and track progress on the goals and requirements of the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement. On February 12, 2007, Mayor Susan McBryant and the Hailey City Council joined 496 U.S. mayors and cities in ratifying the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement. The agreement, modeled on the Kyoto Protocol, is a pledge to take local action in improving the quality of our air through the reduction of air and climate pollutants and to promote stronger federal policy and action. See a copy of the agreement here.

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