NPS Preservation Brief on improving energy efficiency

NPS issued a recently revised Preservation Brief on improving energy efficiency:

·   https://www.nps.gov/tps/how-to-preserve/briefs/3-improve-energy-efficiency.htm

the illustrated sustainability guidelines for rehabilitating historic buildings,

·   https://www.nps.gov/tps/standards/rehabilitation/sustainability-guidelines.pdf (publication)

·   https://www.nps.gov/tps/standards/rehabilitation/guidelines/index.htm (interactive web feature)

as well as the following guidance:

·   Sustainability – https://www.nps.gov/tps/sustainability.htm

·   Solar panels – https://www.nps.gov/tps/sustainability/new-technology/solar-on-historic.htm

·   Green roofs – https://www.nps.gov/tps/sustainability/new-technology/green-roofs.htm

workshop: Making Wooden Storm Windows

Making Wooden Storm Windows
Presented By
The Belvedere School for Hands-On Preservation

February 17, 18 & 19, 2017
8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily
521 Bird Street, Hannibal, Missouri 63401

If you’ve ever thought about installing wooden storm windows on your house or building, this is the workshop you don’t want to miss. This workshop is truly woodworking 101 for anyone regardless of your skill level. It is also the only time we’re offering this workshop in 2017.

Making Wooden Storm Windows is a fun and intense, three-day, hands-on learning experience. Students will how to make wooden storm windows. You will be part of a team building exterior storms for the windows in the circa 1859 historic Lamb-Munger Mansion in the Central Park National Historic District in Hannibal, Mo.

This is a tuition-based class with a limit of 10 students. You will be working side-by-side all three days in the shop with instructor Bob Yapp. Bob has been a woodworker and furniture designer/maker for 44 years.

This will be an intense, learn-by-doing opportunity. You will learn why wood storms are important, how to measure an opening for a storm, how to grade/pick lumber, storm sash construction, glass/screen installation weather-stripping & installation techniques. We will be constructing two types of storm sash:

1) Traditional wood storms with puttied glass.

2) Combination wood storm/screen sash with removable glass from the inside of the property. At the end of the three days you will know from beginning to end, how to completely build both wood storm windows. All students completing the class will receive a “Certificate of Completion”.

Homeowners, small contractors, preservation staff, preservation commission members, hp students and historic building owners will all benefit from this hands-on, traditional training event. All skill levels are encouraged to sign up.

Tuition for this three-day workshop is $400 and includes morning coffee/snacks, beverages and lunch. Space is limited to ten students in each session and pre-registration is required to secure a spot in the class.

Inexpensive motels as well as bed & breakfast inns are available for out of town students. For more information or to pre-register call Bob Yapp, 217-474-6052 or email him, yapperman@msn.com

February 17, 18 & 19, 2017
8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily

 

public comments on two-way Main Street Dec 2016 – January 2017

Attached you will find information and a website for the City’s Two Way Main Street Project.  Please take some time to look at the proposed scope and give your comments on the website.

All comments regarding the project will be compiled and forwarded to the Commission.

Feel free to pass this on to anyone you feel would be interested or have an opinion about the project.

There are plans to have a public meeting about this, comments may also be submitted as part of regular City Commission work sessions.

West Main Street Flyer

A a quarterly newsletter for the people of Franklin County

Franklin County Fiscal Court Expands Outreach to Community

In their continuing effort to expand outreach to the citizens of the county the Franklin County Fiscal Court has entered into an agreement with TCHQ Communications of Frankfort to produce and distribute a quarterly newsletter for the people of Franklin County.

“This is a unique opportunity for us,” Judge/Executive Huston Wells said. “We will be in the mail boxes of all county residents four times a year, letting them know what county government is doing and what’s happening in the community, and it won’t cost tax payers a dime.”

Printing and distribution, which will be done though the United States Postal Service, of the Franklin County News will be paid for through advertising dollars. “Business and non-profit organizations interested in advertising will be able to reach every mail box in the county for as little as .0079 cents per household.” Said Leo Haggerty, founder of TCHQ Communications. Non-profit agencies will receive a 25% discount.

“Communication is very important. That has been one of the priorities of this Fiscal Court. I see this as an extension of the work we have done with our website and social media.” Judge Wells went on to say.

“Businesses interest in adverting should call (502) 209-7619 or visit www.FranklinCoNews.com for more information.” Haggerty pointed out. “The first issue will be delivered to the Post Office mid-February and should be in mail boxes a couple of days later.”

public meeting 15 Dec 2016: Frankfort Plant Board reservoir discussion

Public meeting scheduled December the 15th at the FPB Clubhouse. A walking tour for those interested will begin at 4:30 pm.  The Public meeting will begin at 5:30 pm with a couple of presentations and public comment period after.

from the Commission Work Session (28 Nov 2016):
David Billings of the Frankfort Plant Board gave a brief presentation and update on the reservoir. A complete copy of the presentation can be found on the Frankfort Plant Board’s website. Billings indicated there would be a public meeting to discuss the reservoir at 5 p.m. on December 15. A brief walking tour of the reservoir will take place prior to the meeting at 4:30 p.m.

The Plant Board’s regular meeting is scheduled for 20 December 2016
http://fpb.cc/meetings/2016/12/20/december-20th-board-meeting

The Plant Board presentation on the reservoir issues is here: fpb-frankfort-reservoir

The Plant Board notice about the meeting, from the November session, is here: http://fpb.cc/news-and-updates/2016/11/21/november-15-board-meeting-presentations

April – May 2017 Restoration Maintenance Workshop / Pine Mountain Settlement School

April 30th through May 5th, 2017

Pine Mountain Settlement School
Restoration Maintenance Workshop
with Bob Yapp & Patrick Kennedy

Join nationally known preservation trades artisans Bob Yapp & Patrick Kennedy for a five-day, hands-on learning experience on the beautiful campus of Pine Mountain Settlement School. Working at the awe-inspiring National Historic Landmark campus side-by-side with Bob & Patrick, you will learn cost-effective high-priority restoration maintenance tasks that will prepare you to tackle just about any project.

The Workshop. This will be an intense, learn-by-doing opportunity that covers the many important and prevalent restoration tasks.  You will learn exterior wood repair, window repair, masonry repair, roofing/flashing repair, water run-off management/gutter drainage and how to create a maintenance plan for historic structures.  At the end of the five days you will know from beginning to end how to properly carry out these repairs on any restoration project. You will receive a Certificate of Completion from the Belvedere School for Hands-On Preservation & Pine Mountain School for Practical Preservation.

About Pine Mountain Settlement School.  A National Historic Landmark located in Eastern Kentucky, Pine Mountain Settlement School is a picturesque location for preservation workshops.  It offers comfortable accommodations, farm-fresh meals, and evening entertainment, including authentic bluegrass music.

Bob Yapp & Patrick Kennedy at
George Washington’s Mount Vernon Home

About Bob Yapp.  Bob Yapp has been involved in the restoration or rehabilitation of more than 160 historic properties over 45 years. In 1996 Bob produced and hosted the national PBS 52-show series, About Your House with Bob Yapp, which was co-underwritten by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Bob is a founding co-member of the National Window Preservation Standards Collaborative. He co-wrote and co-edited the new national Window Preservation Standards.

As President of Preservation Resources, Inc. based in Hannibal, Missouri, Bob founded the Belvedere School for Hands-On Preservation. Most recently, with Patrick Kennedy’s assistance, Bob restored all the windows in the Cupula of George Washington’s Mount Vernon Home. Bob lives in Hannibal, Missouri with his wife Pat and their two dogs George and Gracie.

About Patrick Kennedy. Patrick has been involved in hands on historic building rehabilitation for over 40 years. From 1997 to 2012 he worked for the Kentucky Heritage Council, (the state historic preservation office) as an adviser for historic building renovations throughout the state.  He continues working on historic log and wood frame buildings as well as window restoration. Patrick helped establish a nationally recognized “hands on” restoration skills program at Pine Mountain Settlement School with major assistance from Bob Yapp.

Patrick continues his work in historic preservation as a ‘go to’ source for historic building projects, contractor for special preservation projects, instructor at hands-on education workshops and supervisor for HistoriCorps volunteer projects. He lives in rural Owen County Kentucky, with his wife Dara Carlisle and their two dogs Stevie and Buddy Mack.

Registration.  Class size is very limited.  Cost of the workshop is $950, which includes tuition, meals, lodging, evening entertainment, and materials. The workshop begins with a 6 p.m. dinner on Sunday, April 30 and concludes with lunch on Friday, May 5.  Register at www.pinemountainsettlementschool.com/events.php   You can also call 606-558-3571 or email for more information office@pinemountainsettlementschool.com.

Bob Yapp
President
Preservation Resources, Inc.
The Belvedere School for Hands-On Preservation
The Belvedere Inn B & B
521 Bird Street
Hannibal, Missouri 63401
217-474-6052
yapperman@msn.com
www.bobyapp.com
www.belvedereinnhannibal.com

EnvisionFranklinCounty Releases Report Assessing FPB Power Contract – Nov 2016

EnvisionFranklinCounty Releases Report Assessing FPB Power Contract

Group Calls on Utility to Change Contract or Seek Other Options

November 2, 2016

EnvisionFranklinCounty has released a report by consultant Synapse Energy Economics which offers an assessment of the FPB’s All-Requirements power contract with the Kentucky Municipal Energy Agency (KyMEA). “Synapse’s findings reinforce our concern that the AR contract as written is not in the best interest of the FPB, its ratepayers, or our community,” stated Envision in a letter accompanying the report. Envision is calling on the FPB to seek changes to the AR contract and its energy portfolio or, failing that, to withdraw from the agreement.

In their report, Synapse stated, “We find that these contracts, which at present lock the FPB and other KyMEA members into a nearly 100 percent coal-fired generating portfolio, present significant risks to ratepayers in Franklin County.” The report drew special attention to Big Rivers Electric Corporation, which has contracted to provide 100 MW of coal-fired generation to the KyMEA. Synapse continued, “While there is a troubling lack of information that is open to the public in this contract, there are plenty of known reasons to be wary of engaging in a contract with Big Rivers.”

“We are unaware of any independent analysis the FPB has done to compare the AR contract with other options,” said Envision member Andy McDonald. “And as the KyMEA contract does not state what rates they will charge the FPB, it’s impossible to know if this will be a good deal for Frankfort. Rather than taking it on faith that this contract is the best option, we would rather see a transparent process that reviews multiple power supply options and compares clear cost figures.”

 Synapse noted that the FPB would find it difficult to terminate the All-Requirements contract. While there is an “early termination” clause that would allow the FPB to exit the contract with 5 years notice, they would still be obligated to pay for power purchase commitments that extend beyond the termination date. So while the FPB could terminate the AR contract as early as 2024, they would still be committed to paying for their power commitments to Big Rivers through 2029. Synapse stated, “This tremendous barrier gives FPB no reason to ever terminate. Therefore, its customers are completely locked-in, no matter how costly the contract ends up being.”

The Synapse report also found that the AR contract creates financial barriers to local measures that could reduce costs for the FPB and ratepayers, such as energy efficiency and renewable energy programs. Despite assurances from the KyMEA consultants that the contract does nothing to restrict such programs, the actual terms of the contract present many barriers.

“We hope that this report will help the Plant Board recognize that this contract is not in the best interest of their ratepayers or our community,” said EnvisionFranklinCounty President Chris Schimmoeller. “We call on them to seek changes and create a contract that better serves the needs of our community.”

The full report from Synapse Energy Economics and Envision’s accompanying letter are attached below, along with a Summary of Envision’s Concerns with the AR Contract. All three documents will also be available at www.EnvisionFranklinCounty.com and www.kyconservation.org.