Four the future - December 23

Today: energy-neutral housing, energy savings grants, County zoning change, and Spokane GTEC.

You may notice that I'm slowly adding new sources to the report. This edition features four different sources: Wall Street Journal, Sightline Daily, Liberty Lake Splash, and the Spokesman-Review. The Pacific Northwest Inlander, Greenstone, The Lands Council, Spokane Councilmember Jon Snyder and others have contributed in the past. I know The Oregonian is coming up in a future "Four." Stories related to planning are everywhere. If you find one, please comment with it or let me know so I can put it in a future edition.

• Builders Zero In on New Goal of Energy-Neutral Housing
  Source: Wall Street Journal, 091222
  Summary: In the past five years, developments featuring near or zero net grid energy use have sprung up. 40% of US energy usage comes from buildings. They are more expensive to build, the premium is up to 15% for a zero-net building. However, with incentives, return on investment is 12 years. Rural Development Inc. has reduced the cost of energy for their homes to $700/year from $2,700/year. Robert and Monica Fortunato are reducing energy costs by installing insulation which includes paraffin wax which melts and solidifies to moderate temperatures.
  Opinion: Energy is a particularly interesting planning topic because it's as close planners get to physics--where politicians don't get to change the laws no matter how much their campaign contributors complain. One of the restraining issues is that the energy that travels through the wire must be used the very moment it is created--no delay, not even a nanosecond. Since these housing developments use energy at a time unrelated to the time they generate energy (who needs light fixtures on during the day for solar powered houses?), they contribute to the grid. Then they withdraw from the grid when they are underproducing. The advantage of a huge energy infrastructure is that a small group of people can use it as an "energy bank." But what happens when everyone does this? There will be a time when we need to be able to store energy reliably and efficiently. We're not there now. But, at least there is a known path. When there's too much energy entering the grid, we should either create fuels which can store the energy chemically or decommission other energy sources as we take up more base load with alternatives. This is just another challenge that we have in planning. And since this will be highly expensive, we're facing the consequences of inappropriate energy source usage, and we can't simply change the laws to cover our embarrassment, we need to commit to planning and implementing right away.


• A Teachable Moment
  Source: Sightline Daily, 091222
  Summary: Buildings and be energy-efficient, but ultimately they are used by people who need to learn how to use their buildings properly. Grant monies are available to local governments in the State of Washington. Washington State University has Resource Conservation Managers (RCM) who can teach people how to use their buildings in the best way. Olympia School District (OSD) spent $110,000 to support an RCM for two years, and has saved $444,061, leaving $334,000 for educational purposes--very important during lean times. Local governments have until January 15 to apply for grant of up to $75,000.
  Opinion: Not all organizations are as large as OSD, so the grants are for groups of governments to get together and apply. I wonder if any local governments in the Spokane area will band together to save money. There's no shortage of politicians who talk about saving money. Who will walk the talk and become a hero for fiscal responsibility and the environment?


• County approves zone change
  Source: Liberty Lake Splash, 091223
  See Also: Four the Future - December 12
  Summary: A parcel near Liberty Lake has been changed from rural traditional to low density residential. The change was opposed by the Spokane County Planning Commission. The increase allows 5 units on the property, rather than the original 1. Commissioner Mark Richard will "ask the family to consider limiting building height to one-story on the property." The opposition to the change is organized, and has announced its intention to utilize the legal system to enforce the comprehensive plan.
  Opinion: Planning is an inherently political process. While there was an effort to reform planning to make it less political (with the establishment of planning commissions, for instance), politicians opposed to local neighborhood planning don't even bother with the fig leaf anymore. Richard, whose last job was as the lobbyist for the Spokane Home Builders Association, is a prime example with this quote from the article: "I would say they [the Planning Commission] are (sic) advisory, and just like we take input from all over the county, the planning commission is one form of input." That wasn't the intent of the establishment of planning commissions. The planning commission is tasked with accepting the input, then make a decision to take out courthouse politics. But, with elected officials who believe that their power comes from being in the position of decision maker rather than through the moral authority that comes from doing the work of the people, the purpose of the governmental authority matters little. Oh, and asking the family to keep it to one story? Please spare me the nonsense, commissioner. Your opinion doesn't matter outside the courthouse.


• City benefits as commute miles driven take a dive
  Source: Spokesman, 091223
  Summary: The Spokesman-Review editorial staff opines that it's good that Spokane has been recognized for reducing wasteful driving activities--good for economic development, its image, and our health. Spokane formed a Growth and Transportation Efficiency Center (GTEC) and committed to reducing the drive-alone rate by 1,000 within 4 years. It did so in 10 months. Spokane used to have some of the most foul air in the nation, but it's off the worst offenders list since 2005. Originally, efforts to reduce single-occupancy vehicle use was only for rush hour travel, but now it's for all times. There are always calls of "socialism" when bike racks are installed or bus passes are distributed. But, Spokane's methods have worked, despite Spokane's conservative nature.
  Opinion: The GTEC in downtown Spokane is an excellent example of the work of Spokane County Commute Trip Reduction Office. They've always done a great job because we have an countywide program and the staff is so energetic and committed. The reason the original CTR program focused on rush hour was that part of the purpose is to reduce the number and size of roads that need to be constructed--we can save an immense amount of highway dollars by not stuffing all the cars on the road at the same time. But as other concerns like climate change take front stage, reductions in total vehicle miles will be required. There is a misperception in the opinion piece, however. The linkage between conservative opinions and unwillingness to reduce vehicle miles is not real. True conservatives don't mind saving money and being healthy. In fact, the leader of the people who want to build a regional light rail system is staunchly conservative. Please: there is a difference between being conservative and being lazy, self-centered, and childish! I hope that as the economy recovers, we can maintain this great progress.