Community of Exeter Energy Committee Meeting 

The town of Exeter Energy Committee has now inspired other communities such as Brentwood and other surrounding towns to create their own energy committees. These committees focus on keeping the town energy efficient and have a list of members who range from different jobs in the town and diverse life experiences. Another Junior and I act as liaisons to the committee and bring in ideas which get younger people involved in clean energy. Some events that have been organized by the energy committee are electric car shows at town hall, featuring vehicles which range from companies such as Toyota to higher end companies such as Lucid Air. Smaller events have been held, such as two members speaking to the EHS environmental club about electric chargers (something the club hopes to install in school parking lots). Many important leaders of the energy committee were considering joining the sustainability committee on matters which deal with energy sustainability for more of a backing in these situations. As well as discussing clean and renewable energy, the committee also discusses town matters such as building codes.

On Epping Road in Exeter, there is a new empty building behind the Nouria gas station (which will have level 3 electric car chargers), and the town is trying to figure out what to do with the space. A current option that many are rooting for is moving the police department into this new space. The current police/fire station on Court Street in downtown Exeter is very cramped and there is limited room. Moving the police department to the building on Epping road would allow for more space for both departments and ultimately benefit the community. The energy committee would like to strive for putting sustainable power and energy into the building no matter who ends up there. With the exciting idea of having clean energy in a potential police station, the question of building codes came up and the committee addressed this question. Before the New Year, the requirement in Exeter was for all buildings to follow the 2015 building code, but on January 1, 2023 the new requirement was for all buildings to follow the 2018 electrical, building, and residential code. Benefits of the new code is energy efficiency as well as increasing the current code level, which is currently around a C+ grade. There is a 2020 building code, but a town has to adopt the previous building code, 2018, before they can upgrade to the newest code. Buildings are allowed to meet or exceed the code, but they are not allowed to be bellow code, which the town and state enforces. States spend lots of time and debating on the topics of the building codes and what needs to be fixed on both homes and town buildings. Building codes are a way that the government can attempt to assist with sustainability and environment-friendly sourced energy. 

So what are ways that someone can get involved in their local community environment? The most important step to being an active member in your environment is being aware of local community issues around sustainability. In surrounding states you can receive money for recycling glass bottles and you have a pay a few cents to use a plastic shopping bag. These are ways in which surrounding states communities have impacted the environment and their output of what could harm the future state of our climate. If you want to take a much more active role in your communities environment, staying alert on what issues will be presented at board meetings is very important. Recently in Exeter, the select board voted to send building a local solar power grid, to be voted on by Exeter voters in March. The public is allowed to attend select board meetings and can give their opinion on the matter, which is a simple way to be involved in your towns environmental impact. Educating yourself on the topic of the enviornment and becoming an informed citizen in environmental issues both internationally, nationaly, and locally, is exteremly important. Excersising your right to vote or advocating for certain bills that will be voted on are both easy and quick ways to stay an informed citizen and have an impact on your community.