was the last to edit The Initial set of MET Communal Usership group projects
on May 18th, 2010 at 8:42 PM
Topic: The Initial set of MET Communal Usership group projects
Topic type:
Initial list, December 2009:
- Use of CAN! mail-lists for sharing—or shared avoidance of--of fossil-fuel burning products
- A potential variant: neighborhood-by-neighborhood listings of such products for-share. Initially posted on MET website; additional broadcast/display added later
- Cellulose drop-off/pickup depot. This is also in the Weatherization group's 'portfolio,' but probably more suited to this group.
- Neighborhood-by-neighborhood weatherization DIY kits, supervision. Also in the Weatherization group's 'portfolio,' and is primarily their kind of thing, but might be large enough to be a co-group project.
- Co-operative pick-up truck ownership. Currently, initial legal work being done by Transportation group, but later roll-out may require this team's contribution.
Detail:
Use of CAN! mail-lists for sharing—or shared avoidance of--of fossil-fuel burning products
- Active expansion from the current level.
- perhaps a MET encouragement to all mail-lists to increase use for this purpose.
- perhaps a MET encouragement to all mail-lists to increase use for this purpose.
- Examples, based on items seen in local CAN mail-lists:
- shared use of a gas-powered lawn mower
- shared use of an electric mower (posted by someone hoping to avoid a gas-powered mower)
Cellulose Dropoff/Pickup depot
Re-use of cellulose otherwise discarded in landfill, and save both erstwhile disposers, and consumers, money.
This project will begin with an evaluation of the need for excess cellulose depot (free drop-off/pick-up).
There is a good chance that local weatherizers will be interested in using this depot: each bag of excess cellulose not disposed saves the contractor $7.25/contractor bag disposal cost. Approximately 3 bricks will fit per contractor bag; this saves those who pick up depot cellulose depot $10/brick cost.
We’ll also decide whether the drop-off/pick-up would be free.
Other points:
- the re-used cellulose will probably be useful only for “open blow” application.
- location: wood pellet space? Perhaps not; might want an unlocked space?
- COULD INCLUDE THE FIBERGLASS BEING PULLED FROM WEATHERIZATION JOBS(?)
A related possibility is a cellulose-buying Co-op.
Weatherization DIY kits and supervision, City neighborhood by City neighborhood
note: This project may be a collaboration with the existing Between The Cracks program; it will also require some access to BPI-certified weatherizers.
A significant portion of a typical weatherization job can be completed by the homeowner; DIY resources exist to help them (see below). These resources--the materials, tools, how-to information, and training--can be brought together as a “kit”and deployed neighborhood by neighborhood. This program would prioritize home and business owners who’ve had an audit but not yet scheduled weatherization work, to enable more to bridge the gap between those two steps, and saving the homeowner a significant portion of total cost.
The first part of this project would involve connecting ‘Between The Cracks,’ an existing MET program currently being updated by Ken Jones and Barry McPhee. A couple caveats must be issued: needed: homeowner will need regular access to trainers to maintain tight quality control, and to be left with clear, concise guides (see below).
Putting this together would likely require coordinated public education campaign, using CAN mail-lists, local media. etc.
- DIY resources available:
- Montpelier Energy Team’s BTC program
- Efficiency Vermont’s DIY guides:
- Weatherization Skillshop -- a statewide educational program created by CVCAC <http://www.cvcac.org> http://weatherizationskillshop.com/
- DIY resources that’d have to be developed:
- A BTC-generated list of what can be DIY’d, what can’t (see linked doc ‘Between The Cracks 2.0’)
- A BTC-generated list of what can be DIY’d, what can’t (see linked doc ‘Between The Cracks 2.0’)
- For the average homeowner, this would require some tools, materials and a bit of training.
- materials & tools: e.g. Sprayfoam guns - the two types: $<=100. Masks, gloves, headlamps. MET $ to help fund?
- trained neighborhood-by-neighborhood leaders, themselves trained by BTC
- The tools, materials and training guides/checklists would be physically located in each neighborhood that undertook this.
- Would need coordinated public education campaign, using CAN mail-lists and local media. etc.
Co-operative pick-up truck ownership
The person/team taking on this project will investigate/document all steps required or advised to legally co-own a pickup truck with friends/neighbors. They’ll then write a guide and distribute it via CAN mail-lists et cetera.
Considerations
- Insurance — who will insure this coop ownership? What’s the cost range?
- LLC (A Limited-Liability Corporation) -- would one be needed?
- Most car co-ops appear to be larger-scoped, typically city-wide in larger cities.
- A pick-up co-op may not face some of the barriers a “first-car” co-op ownership would:
- needs already adequately met
Links:- needs too high to be met
- needs too unpredictable to be met
- car seats available/compatible
- clean, well-maintained
- pets allowed in it
- standards of cleanliness/maintenance
- http://www.cooperators.ca/en/aboutus/coopadv/2_5_0.html - an insurer of co-operatives; call, ask for similar U.S. insurers.
- http://calgarycarshare.ca/ - Calgary’s Carsharing Co-op.
- A mkt research survey with: perceived benefits & barriers of a co-op membership, , http://74.125.95.132/search?q=cache:ZewyPiBXhuEJ:www.peoplescar.org/Download-Word-Files/SUMMARY%2520OF%2520%2520SURVEY%2520RESULTS.pdf+Co-operative+vehicle+ownership&cd=8&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us&lr=lang_en|lang_fr&client=firefox-a
- needs already adequately met
