WILTON -- The Comstock Community Center energy savings are in line with what private buildings have seen over a longer period, according to a presentation given to the Board of Selectmen Monday night.
Lee Wilson, of Wilson Properties, gave the board a presentation highlighting the upgrades and changes made to three of his six Wilton office buildings, with First Selectman Bill Brennan noting similar savings have been seen in Comstock, albeit in a much shorter timeframe.
"What's really kind of amazing is that we recently moved forward on the Comstock," Brennan said. "It's nice to see that it's all pretty much the same from our program, and it was primarily due to the (Connecticut Light and Power) rebate."
The buildings, 43 Danbury Road, 57 Danbury Road and 37 Danbury Road all saw significant energy and maintenance savings and all had a portion of their energy costs covered by Connecticut Light and Power (CL&P) through rebates.
"This is the project that really keyed up my interest," Wilson said of his 43 Danbury Road property. "We replaced the rooftop unit here, we converted from electric to gas."
The building also received a lighting retrofit, occupancy sensors and digital HVAC controls. The building is up for LEED certification.
Forty-three Danbury Road's upgrades, done in April 2009, cost $300,000 before CL&P's $115,000 rebate, leading to $336,000 in utility savings.
"Our tenants like to think that their landlord is environmentally conscious, as we are, and I think they appreciate the fact that we're doing what we can within reason to reduce the carbon footprint of our buildings," Wilson said, whose company has a building contract pending in Wilton Center.
Wilson's other properties, 57 Danbury Road and 37 Danbury Road, saw 28 percent and 27 percent utility and maintenance savings respectively. In total, the three buildings saw an average of 20 percent return on investment and has saved 221 tons of carbon-dioxide emissions per year.
"If I had to do these three jobs again, you look back on these projects and sometimes you say to yourself 'we would've done something different here or there,' but that's not the case with any of these jobs," Wilson said. "If we had the same set of circumstances again, we would've done it the same way."
In October, the Board of Selectmen approved re-lamping Comstock's interior and exterior lighting systems, as well as adding room occupancy sensors, carbon dioxide sensors and variable air units. The upgrades were paid for through a grant and financing from CL&P.
Selectmen on Board with Clean Energy Increase for Town
By TOM EVANS Villager Staff WriterPosted on 08/04/2011
WILTON—The town continues to make good on its pledge to use clean energy, with the Board of Selectmen agreeing to increase municipal clean energy to 30 percent of its output by 2015, it was announced at its regular meeting Monday night.
“One of the first recommendations the Energy Commission made (upon its creation) in 2008 was to make Wilton a clean community by 2010,” said Bruce Hampson, chairman of the Energy Commission. “And 20 percent of the town’s energy was clean energy by 2010. That recommendation served us well. We did it.”
There is still work to be done, according to Hampson.
“We had a vote two meetings ago, and the town is re-committed to clean energy,” Hampson said. “We want 30 percent of municipal energy to be a clean, Class 1 source of energy by 2015.”
A Class 1 source of energy, according to Hampson, is one derived from solar, small hydro-electric, wind, fuel cells, or methane from garbage mounds.
“(Former) Gov. (M. Jodi) Rell and Gov. (Dannel) Malloy said Connecticut should be a leader in clean energy,” Hampson said. “All electrical energy sold in Connecticut must meet that Legislature-approved standard. The goal for 2015 is a clean energy criteria of 30 percent.”
An awards program—earning points toward a photo-voltaic array for every household in town that converts to clean energy—is in place. Wilton earned 5,000 points for Wilton High School’s solar array alone, Hampson said of solar panels that produced 23,000 kilowatt hours per year, valued at $39,500.
“The new program hasn’t been totally finalized, and it may add solar-powered lighting and charging stations around town,” Hampson said of the points-reward system. “Even without incentives, this is the right thing to do. We are thinking globally and acting locally. Even if we didn’t earn the benefits, it’s the right thing to do.”
Now Hampson is urging the town to purchase Renewable Energy Credits (RECs).
“We urge the town to purchase credits for 2012, 2013 and 2014,” Hampson said. “Public Act 80-11 mandates that municipalities purchase RECs. Today is Connecticut a total of 103 towns are in the program. This is the way we will increase our clean energy usage to 30 percent by 2015.”
The selectmen unanimously approved a motion to help the town achieve that goal.
http://www.wiltonvillager.com/story/509142
Wilton High School Goes Solar!
Source: CT Clean Energy Fund
A dedication ceremony was held April 14, 2011, in Wilton, Conn., to celebrate the installation of a 20-kilowatt (kW) solar photovoltaic (PV) system above the science wing at Wilton High School. The solar PV system was installed by Alteris Renewables Inc.
The system was made possible by diverse resources. The Town of Wilton earned 5 kW through CCEF’s Connecticut Clean Energy Communities Program and also received a grant through CCEF’s On-Site Renewable Distributed Generation Program, resulting in total funding by CCEF of $75,575. The balance of the system cost was provided through a generous donation by Ron French, president of Alteris Renewables and former resident of Wilton, who made the donation in memory of his late wife, Sherry French, who was an ardent supporter of the environment and education. French’s contribution supported 15 kW of the system. French additionally made an arrangement with the Town whereby the money that the Town saves in utility bills as a result of the solar installation will be put into an annual scholarship in his wife’s name that will be awarded to a student chosen by the Wilton High School Science Department.
CCEF also provided funding for a special data monitoring system developed by Heliotronics, which will be utilized by students throughout the state as part of CCEF’s Learning for Clean Energy Innovation program.
At the dedication ceremony, remarks were made by representatives from the Town of Wilton; Wilton High School; Alteris Renewables; Little People, Big Changes; and CCEF.
“To insure a sustainable future for our community, Wilton decided early to be a municipal leader in energy conservation, efficiency and renewable energy initiatives,” said First Selectman William Brennan. “Our Energy Commission has done a remarkably effective job over the last few years. Wilton has been designated a ‘Clean Energy Community’ and has been selected to participate in the federally funded Neighbor to Neighbor Energy Challenge. While we have made significant progress with a broad range of programs, we still have many challenges to reach our leadership goal, but we will get there!”
Ron French added, “Now more than ever, it is important that students understand that solar and other renewable energy sources offer a viable alternative both today and for their future. I am proud to be able to advance the great educational options of Wilton High School in the memory of my late wife.”
The Wilton Energy Commission, established in 2007, and Little People, Big Changes, a children’s action group founded in 2006 by two 8-year-olds from Wilton, played a key role helping the Town earn 5 kW of solar PV through the Connecticut Clean Energy Communities Program. The latter group was recognized for its impressive efforts in encouraging local signups under the CTCleanEnergyOptionsSM program, earning a Governor’s Climate Change Leadership Award in 2008. Both groups continue to make progress in securing signups.
As of December 31, 2010, Wilton had earned a total of 307 clean energy points from CCEF. Wilton earned one point for each of the 274 customers enrolled in the CTCleanEnergyOptions program and three points for each of the 11 clean energy installations in town. Wilton also earned a bonus kilowatt under the Clean Energy Communities program by surpassing 2.5 percent household participation in the CTCleanEnergyOptions program. The clean energy points and bonus award enabled the Town to earn 5 kW of solar PV from CCEF.
The Town can earn points toward additional clean energy system kilowatts by garnering more clean energy signups or having more local businesses and households install clean energy systems, such as solar PV, solar thermal or geothermal.
“The celebration today is a tribute to the collaboration between CCEF and the citizens of Wilton to advance awareness and use of clean energy options,” said Paula Byrdy, co-chair of the Wilton Energy Commission. “It's especially appropriate that the solar PV system has been installed at the high school where it will be a laboratory for studies in alternative energy technology, offering our youth an example and, we hope, an inspiration to lead our town and our state to a future independent of fossil fuels.”
The Wilton Energy Commission and Town leaders also helped Wilton meet its clean energy goal of 20% by 2010 and reduce energy use at municipal facilities and schools by 12%.
Looking to the future, Wilton plans to strengthen its commitment to clean energy. In next three years, Wilton will seek to dramatically increase residential enrollments in the CTCleanEnergyOptions program through its participation in the Neighbor to Neighbor Energy Challenge (N2N), a 14-town community energy savings program led by CCEF that was launched last month. Additionally, Wilton Go Green Inc., a committee of the Wilton Energy Commission that promotes clean energy and energy efficiency, has organized the second annual Wilton Go Green Festival. This event will be held on May 1 at the Wilton Library and the Wilton Town Green. Last year, the event featured over 80 exhibitors and attracted more than 1,000 attendees. This year, attendance is expected to easily top that number.
Wilton became a Connecticut Clean Energy Community in 2008. It is one of 53 Connecticut Clean Energy Communities statewide that, collectively, have earned 303 kilowatts of solar PV systems from CCEF. For more information about these and other Connecticut communities, visit the Program Progress Reports page on CCEF’s Web site or the general Communities section,www.ctcleanenergy.com/communities.
“The town government and citizens of all ages in Wilton have engaged
in a deliberate, thoughtful process regarding their relationship with
energy,” said Bob Wall, director of energy market initiatives for CCEF.
“Fortunately, they have developed a holistic and sustainable plan that
not only will save money and resources but will create a better quality
of life for generations to follow.”
Norwalk River Valley Trail awarded $180,000 for Study
The federal money will be used to develop a study, which will serve as the foundation for construction of the trail northward. As part of the study, the steering committee will seek public input on design, routing and other aspects of the trail.
...more at www.nrvt-trail.com
Wilton and 13 Other Connecticut Towns to Share $4.2M Stimulus Grant
for Energy Challenge
Governor Rell's AnnouncementThe Hour News NewsHound Report on Stimulus Award
Bruce Hampson selected for Governor's Climate Change Award
Wilton Energy Commission member Bruce Hampson was honored as a 2010 CT Climate Change Leadership Award
winner for his exemplary role in promoting clean energy and energy
efficiency in Wilton. 
...more at CT Climate Change
Wilton Go Green Festival Press
Easy Going Green
Hundreds attend 'Wilton Go Green Festival' Sunday