Cuyahoga County Municipal Energy Program

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can calendar year 2009 be used to provide a utility expense history for a twelve month period?

   Yes, calendar 2009 can be used to provide the twelve month utility expense history.

2. When counting traffic lights and street lighting, is the measure BTUs or units?

   The measure for traffic and street lights is units. Please provide the number of lights (poles) for traffic, street, pedestrian crosswalk and parking lots.

3. When completing the Data Collection Form, do I aggregate building types or list them separately?

   Please do not aggregate the buildings. Use as many forms as you need for simplicity. Number multiple building of the same type. Example: Fire Station #1; Fire Station #2, etc.

4. What is the scope of an ASHRAE Level II Audit?

   ASHRAE Level II Energy Audits involves a detailed review of the building's mechanical and electrical systems. In particular it requires a breakdown of the total annual energy use into end-use components, and a list of practical energy-conservation measures together with the calculations performed for each measure. A published reference document may be found at the ASHRAE bookstore and can be downloaded for a nominal charge.

5. If municipal staff assists in the audit, are those costs allowable?

   Involving the municipal staff is an excellent awareness and training tool. Staff involvement is critical as it will allow the staff to implement the low-cost or no-cost measures discovered. The audit awards are 100% grants for the actual audit and municipal staff time is not an allowable administrative expense. However, when applying for projects, there may be a provision to allow a look back period where the municipal staff time for the audit could be used as an in- kind local match for projects.

6. Does the federal requirement regarding American-Made Equipment and Products require product and equipment tracing?

   No. The Buy America manufactured goods requirement is that manufacturing take place in the United States. There is no requirement with regard to the origin of components or subcomponents in manufactured goods used in a project.

7. How will energy audit cost be determined?

   Energy Audit costs will be based on nationally established averages for similar audits taking into account the number and types of buildings as well as the square footage and complexity. We anticipate that sufficient funds will be available to provide Energy Audits for all applicants.

8. Can leased facilities be included in the audit?

   Yes, as long as the facilities included in the audits are municipally owned (i.e. a facility leased by the municipality as opposed to one the municipality is leasing as the occupant).

9. How will project be evaluated?

   Projects will be evaluated on a number of different factors, including Life Cycle Costs, probability of achieving the stated savings, local match, complexity of the project and increased maintenance needs. Projects that are being funded under an ESCO contract which contains "guaranteed savings provisions" will be weighed and under the same criteria.

   In addition, projects will be evaluated based on the overall objectives of the County as well as the project's goals, benefit and priority need within the municipality.

10. Will my community have time to apply for, complete and submit the audit with time remaining to apply for project funding during Round One of the MEP?

    Round One is on an expedited schedule, and it is unlikely that a municipality will be able to apply for, complete and submit the audit with time remaining to apply for project funding.

11. If a company will not be supplying the equipment, but would be installing and monitoring the equipment, could they perform the audit and then oversee the project?

    The issue is not whether the company is supplying the equipment. The issue is whether or not the company performing the audit has ANY financial interest in the outcome of the project. That would include installing equipment furnished by others and then monitoring the outcome. Specific instances will gladly be addressed promptly.

    It is essential to separate the Energy Audit and resultant calculations from the furnishing and installation process. In other words, in most cases, it would be unacceptable for a contractor or equipment supplier to both perform the audit and then execute the project based on the savings they projected.

    In the case of an ESCO-type project, where savings are guaranteed, there still will exist a need for the CPC to verify the integrity of the audit to be sure it is of ASHRAE Level II quality and further to monitor the results.

12. Will the CPC provide a list of Qualified Auditors?

    No, the CPC will provide a list of auditor qualifications. The municipalities must procure its own auditor who meets these qualifications.

13. What documentation does Professional Engineers, Certified Auditors and Certified Energy Managers need to provide to demonstrate that meet the qualifications to perform the Audits?

    All Energy Auditors, whether Professional Engineer, Certified Auditor or Certified Energy Manger should have at least 3-5 years of experience and be able to provide:

    1. Three reference of customers having received a Level II or higher Energy Audit within the last three years; and

    2. A copy of 2 Level II Energy Audits completed within the last three years.

14. My community is a NOPEC community, and we have received our "Powering Our Communities" grant allocation. Can the grant be used a local match for MEP Project funding?

    Yes, the MEP seeks to leverage and maximize community resources.

15. Does my municipality need to secure the auditor before we submit our application to MEP?

    No. The County is not requiring the communities to select a consultant in order to apply. After the city is awarded a grant and has entered into a contract with the County is the time to solicit auditors.

16. My city has a pump station. Should it be included in the building and facilities data?

    Yes, if it is owned by the city.

17. How do I complete the Data Collection Form?

    In columns 1 and 2, please provide the name of the building or facility types. (Note that you may have multiple buildings of the same type, i.e. three separate Fire Stations. Be sure to deal with each on a separate line). In column 3 list the building or facility square footage. In columns 4-7, please provide the total utility cost for each utility for one year or 12 consecutive months, (Note: You may use 2009 and provide information for January - December 2009, or you may use another period like August 2009 - August 2010). In the column 8, please provide the total utility cost (Note: Add columns 4-7, but also note that we recognize that fuel oil costs may be less frequent). In column 9, provide an average over 12 months. Provide any needed explanations or additional comments in column 10.