THE PLAN TO CONSERVE ENERGY

 

GOAL:  Encourage Modes of Transportation, Patterns of Land Uses and Designs of Sites and other Actions that Conserve Energy.

 

The increasing costs of energy, concerns about air pollution and the desire to reduce American dependence on foreign fuel sources generates the need for energy conservation.  Energy costs are also a major part of the Township’s annual expenses, including to heat buildings, light streets and operate vehicles. 

 

The Township officials should conduct a study of ways to reduce energy consumption in each Township-owned building.   Improvements should be carried out that are shown to be cost-effective over the long run.  Any new building should be designed to minimize its energy consumption, including making use of passive solar technology and making maximum use of natural light.

 

The Township should also evaluate current street lighting and other outdoor lighting to determine the possibilities of using more energy-efficient methods.  New street lights should only be installed where there is a clear need.  In some cases, reflective devices can be used to identify hazards to motorists at a much lower cost than a street light.

 

The Township should also promote land use patterns that are energy-efficient.  This includes encouraging opportunities for close-to-home shopping, employment and recreation.  Bicycling and walking opportunities should be emphasized, as well as expanded public transit service to reduce dependence on individual motor vehicles. 

 

Carpooling should be promoted, particularly through the provision of park and ride lots.  Federal funding is available for PennDOT to develop new park and ride lots.

 

The zoning ordinance should continue to provide opportunities for attached housing.  Attached housing (such as townhouses) typically require substantially less energy for heat than single family detached houses, because they are less exposed on the sides to the elements.  The zoning ordinance should also allow windmills and height modifications if needed for solar energy devices.  The Township’s development regulations should also promote site layouts that allow homes to be clustered on the most appropriate portions of a tract. 

 

New buildings should be oriented to take maximum advantage of a southern orientation.  Evergreen landscaping should be emphasized on the northern side of buildings to provide protection against Winter winds.  Deciduous landscaping should be emphasized on the southern side of buildings to allow the sun to provide warmth during the Winter, while providing shade during the Summer. 

 

The Township’s Construction Code and accompanying State regulations already establishes minimum insulation requirements for new homes.  

 

Public Awareness and Education

 

Township officials should work toward making residents, property owners, builders and developers more aware of the need for energy conservation in Palmer Township. The following techniques are examples of what can be used to educate the public about the need for and value of energy conservation:

 

 

 

 

What Can Developers and Builders Do?

 

Developers and builders should be encouraged to use the following principles and objectives which illustrate examples of how the natural elements such as the sun, wind, landform and vegetation can support heating and cooling systems.

 

 

Planning for Solar Access and Shading

 

The term “solar access,” refers to the availability of sunlight during the period of the day and year when the sun’s energy can be most usefully employed by solar energy collection systems. Solar access consists of two basic principles:

 

 

A general southern exposure is essential for solar systems to be effective, but the ideal orientation will vary according to the nature of the solar application and micro climatic conditions.  An exposure within the range of 20 degrees east to 20 degrees west of south is generally acceptable for most solar applications.

 

This implies orienting streets in a general east-west direction.  In areas already platted in a manner detrimental to solar utilization, building additions, infill developments and redevelopments should be permitted to be solar-oriented.

 

The term “solar skyspace,” refers to the space which must be free of obstructions to protect a given area from shading.  Protection of the solar skyspace need not be absolute for solar energy systems to be effective.  But land use controls should protect that portion of the solar skyspace necessary for the economical operation of solar energy systems without unreasonably burdening adjacent landowners.