Plymouth Area Plymouth Area Renewable Energy Renewable Energy Initiative (PAREI)Initiative (PAREI) Get Get

Energized!Energized! Plan now Plan now

for your for your energy energy future!future!

Plymouth Area Plymouth Area Renewable Energy Renewable Energy Initiative (PAREI)Initiative (PAREI) Organized in 2004 to encourage Organized in 2004 to encourage

energy conservation, energy efficiency energy conservation, energy efficiency practices and promote the use of practices and promote the use of renewable energy in homes, renewable energy in homes, businesses and other buildings in the businesses and other buildings in the Plymouth region due to concerns Plymouth region due to concerns about the peaking of world oil supplies.about the peaking of world oil supplies.

Pragmatic approach by encouraging Pragmatic approach by encouraging people to prepare for their energy people to prepare for their energy future as they would their financial future as they would their financial future. future.

Plymouth Area Plymouth Area Renewable Energy Renewable Energy Initiative (PAREI)Initiative (PAREI) Approximately 130 family Approximately 130 family

and business membersand business members 2 part time staff2 part time staff 6 person Board; 4 6 person Board; 4

have installed solar hot have installed solar hot water in last 1.5 yearswater in last 1.5 years

www.plymouthenergy.orgwww.plymouthenergy.org

PAREI GoalsPAREI Goals

Reduce barriersReduce barriers to the use of to the use of renewable energy by providing renewable energy by providing education & assistance to help members education & assistance to help members plan their energy futures.plan their energy futures.

Reduce costsReduce costs of renewable energy & of renewable energy & energy efficiency products by energy efficiency products by negotiating with manufacturers, retailers negotiating with manufacturers, retailers & trades people. Offer products directly & trades people. Offer products directly to members at a discount (plumbing to members at a discount (plumbing supplies, solar water heating systems)supplies, solar water heating systems)

PAREI GoalsPAREI Goals

Reduce the installation Reduce the installation costscosts of renewable energy by of renewable energy by using a neighbor helping using a neighbor helping neighbor approach and neighbor approach and partnering with local trades partnering with local trades people.people.

Help membersHelp members practice practice energy conservation using the energy conservation using the initiative’s energy assessment initiative’s energy assessment & action planning process.& action planning process.

PAREI MethodsPAREI Methods

The 5 E’s:The 5 E’s: Energy RaisersEnergy Raisers Energy ExchangesEnergy Exchanges Energy Assessment Energy Assessment

Planning SessionsPlanning Sessions Energy AdvisorsEnergy Advisors Educational EventsEducational Events Plus Consulting Services Plus Consulting Services

linking members with linking members with professional servicesprofessional services

PAREI Energy RaisersPAREI Energy Raisers

Modeled after “barn-Modeled after “barn-raising” & tradition of raising” & tradition of neighbor helping neighbor helping neighbor. neighbor.

Helps bring down Helps bring down installation costs & installation costs & educate homeowners educate homeowners about how system about how system works.works.

So far: 14 volunteer So far: 14 volunteer Energy Raisers; 11 solar Energy Raisers; 11 solar hot water/thermal, 2 hot water/thermal, 2 solar photovoltaic and 1 solar photovoltaic and 1 windmill.windmill.

PAREI Energy RaisersPAREI Energy Raisers

““The process includes The process includes the homeowner every the homeowner every step of the way so when step of the way so when your system is installed your system is installed you understand how it you understand how it works & how it benefits works & how it benefits you, the environment & you, the environment & your pocketbook.” your pocketbook.”

Energy Raiser Energy Raiser Participant Paul YelleParticipant Paul Yelle

PAREI Energy PAREI Energy ExchangesExchanges Began as informal monthly discussions Began as informal monthly discussions

for 1-2 hours on energy topics.for 1-2 hours on energy topics. Group discussion, networking, sharing Group discussion, networking, sharing

information.information. Often combined withOften combined with

pot luck supper.pot luck supper. Helps increase knowledge Helps increase knowledge

& build community.& build community. Introduces people to PAREI.Introduces people to PAREI.

PAREI Energy PAREI Energy Assessment Planning Assessment Planning SessionsSessions Available to members.Available to members. PAREI staff & volunteers visit PAREI staff & volunteers visit

member’s home & do introductory member’s home & do introductory level energy assessment.level energy assessment.

Assess solar exposure. Assess solar exposure. Helps increase knowledge Helps increase knowledge

& build community.& build community.

PAREI Energy AdvisorsPAREI Energy Advisors

Linking homeowners in need of information Linking homeowners in need of information with volunteers that possess an expertise in with volunteers that possess an expertise in specific energy issuesspecific energy issues

Volunteer Energy Advisors will meet with Volunteer Energy Advisors will meet with people one-on-one. A comfortable way for people one-on-one. A comfortable way for people to learn (not a sales call).people to learn (not a sales call).

Identifies the resources available in our Identifies the resources available in our community.community.

Taps into a local knowledge base so our Taps into a local knowledge base so our community is better positioned to face the community is better positioned to face the uncertain energy future.uncertain energy future.

PAREI Educational PAREI Educational EventsEvents Co-sponsor of educational talks, films, Co-sponsor of educational talks, films,

presentations.presentations. Public education on Federal Solar Tax Public education on Federal Solar Tax

Credit.Credit. Lectures: Heinberg,Lectures: Heinberg, Panel DiscussionsPanel Discussions On-Site SHW Info SessionsOn-Site SHW Info Sessions Film: Inconvenient Film: Inconvenient

Truth.Truth.

Local Foods Plymouth Local Foods Plymouth (LFP)(LFP) Reducing the miles our food travels. Partnership between PAREI & D Acres of NH,

an organic farm & educational homestead Small Grants provided by USDA Rural Small Grants provided by USDA Rural

Development and NH Dept of AG, Markets and Development and NH Dept of AG, Markets and FoodsFoods

Originated from Energy Exchange discussion.Originated from Energy Exchange discussion. Choosing local food is another way we can all Choosing local food is another way we can all

help to cut down on our overall energy usage.help to cut down on our overall energy usage.

Local Foods PlymouthLocal Foods Plymouth

A virtual marketplace to purchase food products grown locally in Plymouth, NH area.

Produce, meat, eggs, dairy, baked goods, flowers, etc.

Ordering takes place Ordering takes place on -line once a week on -line once a week (Mon - Tues). Orders (Mon - Tues). Orders picked up at Plymouth picked up at Plymouth Farmer’s Market on Farmer’s Market on Thursday afternoons.Thursday afternoons.

Local Foods PlymouthLocal Foods Plymouth

2006 Project brought $6,500 to local farmers primarily 2006 Project brought $6,500 to local farmers primarily from first time buyersfrom first time buyers

2006 Results = 12 farmers and 75 buyers, 2006 Results = 12 farmers and 75 buyers, 2007 goal = 20 farmers and 200 buyers (including two 2007 goal = 20 farmers and 200 buyers (including two

restaurants – menu setting)restaurants – menu setting) Local defined as <30 milesLocal defined as <30 miles Value Added Goods – main ingredient must be sourced Value Added Goods – main ingredient must be sourced

locallylocally Survey showed, people prefer having their $ staying in Survey showed, people prefer having their $ staying in

local economy and want to conserve energy by the way local economy and want to conserve energy by the way they buy food.they buy food.

Brochure and 2006 Summary Report are available on Brochure and 2006 Summary Report are available on PAREI home pagePAREI home page

Energy InnovationEnergy Innovation

We’re We’re actingacting on our ideas. Not taking the “They’ll come up on our ideas. Not taking the “They’ll come up with something” approach.with something” approach.

Keeping our mission narrow, focused and productive.Keeping our mission narrow, focused and productive. We’re creating an avenue for others to act on their natural We’re creating an avenue for others to act on their natural

desire to want to join together and build a better desire to want to join together and build a better community.community.

Tapping into the common ways that motivate people to act Tapping into the common ways that motivate people to act – simply providing fun and productive activities for people – simply providing fun and productive activities for people that share the same concerns.that share the same concerns.

Identifying and addressing the root problem - Whether a Identifying and addressing the root problem - Whether a person’s primary concern is peak oil or global warming person’s primary concern is peak oil or global warming both issues benefit from the results of acting on energy both issues benefit from the results of acting on energy conservation and renewable energy goals.conservation and renewable energy goals.

EncouragingEncouraging the creation of a plan. the creation of a plan. Organic Organization.Organic Organization.