Published: January 06, 2009 11:24 pm      

TOWN OF TONAWANDA: Leaders eye new rules for vehicle purchases, building construction

Last summer, the Town of Tonawanda Commission for Conservation of the Environment began taking an in-depth look at the town’s energy efficiency. In December, the group proposed its recommendations for new policies that includes guidelines for vehicle purchasing and building construction.

Peter Rizzo, one of the seven commission members, said the concerns examined were both environmental and financial.

“Energy efficiency, addressing the energy issue, will allow the town to save money,” Rizzo said. “But in conserving energy, we’ll also be protecting the environment.”

Town leaders ordered an audit of town facilities last February with hopes that improvements to insulation, lighting, air conditioning and other problem areas would eventually pay for themselves. Supervisor Anthony Caruana said that effort was a good start, but that future construction needs to be done with the same eye toward efficiency.

The town is moving in that direction with its new Youth, Parks and Recreation Department office building, to be located in Lincoln Park. The $1.3 million building will contain more efficient lighting and heating systems than other town buildings and have far more advanced insulated walls to limit the loss of heat in the winter and air conditioning in the summer, said Councilman John Bargnesi.

“We’re looking at these things now, where three years ago we weren’t looking,” Bargnesi said.

The Environmental Commission’s recommendations for changes to the town’s building policies rely heavily on the U.S. Green Building Council’s guidelines, which outline various methods in which sustainable buildings can be constructed. Rizzo said some are obvious moves, like installing compact fluorescent light bulbs that use less power and water fixtures that provide the same pressure with less water. But others are more about encouraging users to be more ecofriendly themselves.

“One of the guidelines is adding bike racks in front so that workers or patrons can ride their bike instead of driving,” Rizzo said. “Another is building the structure on a bus route.”

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority will also lend a helping hand to projects that comply with the new standards, offering low-interest loans and grants. Combined with the savings that such buildings will provide over time, the incentives end up flying counter to widespread perceptions that green buildings are more expensive, Rizzo said.

“Constructing new buildings to high energy efficiency standards does not mean adding to the cost of construction,” Rizzo said. “And in the long run, we’re going to earn back much of the money we spend, so it’s just a different way of thinking.”

Green on four (or more) wheels

Buildings aren’t the only town property eyed for an overhaul if the resolutions are approved. A new vehicle purchasing policy would refer department heads to several green car purchasing guides to ensure the most fuel efficient vehicles are being selected for the job.

Highway Superintendent Brad Rowles said his department’s new vehicles are getting double the mileage of older models with the help of computer controls in engines and transmissions. The machines can shut off an engine if it has been idling for too long, limit vehicle speed to ensure the best mileage and provide readouts on miles per gallon.

The information provided is helpful to the department’s maintenance staff in diagnosing problems and keeping the machines operating flawlessly. Mechanics have extended the lives of many of the department’s trucks, with plenty still in service from the ’80s and ’90s, Rowles said.

“We’ve bought quality vehicles and maintained them so we can keep them much longer than 10 years,” Rowles said. “I’m really happy with the economy we’re getting and the route we’ve taken.”

But all attempts at improvement don’t prove successful. The police department tried to use propane to run its cars with little success, and the highway department has conducted similar experiments.

“We’ve run propane and biodiesel to see what works and what doesn’t,” Rowles said.

Highway phased out its propane use, and biodiesel has proved too expensive without state aid. Bargnesi said the Building Department looked at buying a hybrid, but couldn’t make it work.

“The car we looked at wasn’t available for bid on state contract at that time, and that’s how we purchase,” Bargnesi said. “But we’re still looking, and the goal is to make everyone aware so that when the opportunity is there, we’re taking it.”

Cost is always a factor, and many of the newer vehicles are out of the price range that makes them feasible for town use. Caruana said prohibitively expensive technology isn’t a viable option, but that weighing the options each time will keep town leaders and department heads aware of trends in green technology so they can take advantage of better equipment when it makes sense.

“We have to be prudent and economical,” Caruana said. “A car may get good mileage, but the cost of repairs also needs to be reasonable.”

Spreading the word

The commission’s recommendations also added provisions to create a bulletin board in the Municipal Building for environmental postings and creating a speaker series to educate town residents on how they can save money and the environment. Rizzo said NYSERDA offers help to residents in upgrading their homes, and the speakers will provide other simple ways to reduce waste.

Caruana said he’s hopeful that the town’s legal team will have enough time to review the new resolutions before the Jan. 26 town board meeting. The recommendations seem destined to become town law, with proper wording the only thing that could stall the process.

“We’re doing a lot of these things already, but this will codify them,” Caruana said. “I would like to get it done as soon as possible.”

Contact reporter Daniel Pye at 693-1000, ext. 158.