GEFA news quarterly, Jan. 2013

GEFA NEWS QUARTERLY JANUARY 2013 VOLUME IX

TABLE OF CONTENTS

GEFA and DCA Announce

New Energy Code Pilot Study

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Weatherization Day in Georgia

2

GEFA Assists with Environmental

Infrastructure Improvements

2

GEFA Says Goodbye to Two

Board Members

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GEFA AND DCA ANNOUNCE NEW ENERGY CODE PILOT STUDY
The Georgia Environmental Finance Authority (GEFA) and the Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA) recently completed a pilot study of local building departments to promote the adoption of the Georgia State Energy Code for Buildings. DCA completed an update to the state energy code in 2010, and the pilot study helps local governments comply with the new code provisions.
The Building Department Pilot Study: Guidance on Effective Enforcement of Georgia's Energy Code will assist in achieving energy-efficiency and energy-cost savings for facilities across the state. GEFA, DCA and Southface, in partnership with the Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance (SEEA) and the Building Codes Assistance Project (BCAP), conducted the study with funding from the U.S. Department of Energy.
Georgia's plan, per the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, is that new and substantially-renovated buildings will achieve 90 percent compliance with the 2009 International Energy Conservation Code and American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers Standard 90.1-2007 by 2017. The study evaluates the permitting and inspection processes of local building departments, and provides a blueprint for energy code enforcement best practices and updating energy-efficiency processes throughout the state.
The city of Savannah and Chatham County building departments were featured in the study. Both departments allowed its administrative operations, revenue streams, permits and inspection procedures to be evaluated to determine how to achieve improved energy code compliance. The study also looked at the best practices of several other local jurisdictions located within the state, and made recommendations for implementing these best management practices.
The study's findings and recommendations are available to the building inspection departments of all local jurisdictions for consideration and voluntarily incorporation into local administrative procedures and building code enforcement ordinances. Click here to download the study.
GEFA, DCA and Southface were also assisted by a steering committee in developing the study, which included representatives from the Building Officials Association of Georgia, the Home Builders Association of Georgia, the Association of County Commissioners, the Georgia Municipal Association, and other key stakeholders within the construction industry.
For additional information on energy code best practices, contact the DCA Construction Codes Office at 404-679-3118 or via email.

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GEFA NEWS QUARTERLY JANUARY 2013 VOLUME IX

WEATHERIZATION DAY IN GEORGIA

GEFA ASSISTS WITH ENVIRONMENTAL INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS

Gov. Nathan Deal proclaimed October 30, 2012, as Weatherization Day in Georgia to encourage state residents to make energy-efficient improvements, or "weatherize" their homes, to conserve energy.
The Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP), the nation's largest residential energy efficiency program, was initiated in 1976 to assist low-income families by making energyefficiency improvements to their homes. Since then, millions of households have experienced energy efficiency as well as financial, health and safety gains through the program.
GEFA's WAP helps Georgians in all 159 counties benefit from lower energy bills and an improved quality of life. The WAP also contributes more broadly to community improvement and progress by stimulating local economies through the purchase of goods and services, creating jobs and stabilizing neighborhoods.
Click here for more information on the Weatherization Assistance Program.

GEFA approved loans for dozens of Georgia communities throughout the state, enabling them to improve and protect water and sewer infrastructure. Wadley, Ga., was awarded a $1,518,152 Georgia Fund loan that will finance constructing 35,000 linear feet of 8-inch forcemain and an effluent recycling system. The system will deliver approximately 100,000 gallons per day of treated effluent from the city's wastewater treatment facility to North Star Renewable Energy facility. Wadley will pay 1.82 percent interest on the 20year loan, and the city received a 1 percent interest rate reduction because the project will help conserve water. The total project cost is $1,518,152 with GEFA providing the entire amount.
The Barrow County Water and Sewerage Authority was awarded a $2,102,000 Georgia Reservoir and Water Supply Fund planning loan, awarded as part of the Governor's Water Supply Program. The funds will finance a study on the need for additional water supply sources. Once a preferred water supply option is selected, the Barrow County Water and Sewerage Authority will identify any needed mitigation and apply for the necessary state and federal permits. The county will pay 2.82 percent interest on the 10-year loan. The total cost is $2,102,000 with GEFA providing the entire amount.
Cleveland, Ga., was awarded a $2,100,828 Clean Water State Revolving Fund loan that will finance sewer system improvements along Truelove Road, as well as replace gravity sewer and force main. A new pump station, lift station and generator will be installed. Cleveland will pay 1.82 percent interest on the 20-year loan. The total cost of the project is $3,900,828, with the city obtaining additional funding from a $500,000 OneGeorgia grant, a $1,000,000 Economic Development Administration grant, and a $300,000 Appalachian Regional Commission grant. .

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GEFA NEWS QUARTERLY JANUARY 2013 VOLUME IX

GEFA SAYS GOODBYE TO TWO BOARD MEMBERS

GEFA has nothing but well-wishes for two long-time board members that reached the end of their terms this year Elmo Richardson, vice chairman of the Bibb County board of commissioners, and Russell Hinton, former state auditor and GEFA board secretary. Both men have long histories of public service to the state and their contributions are noteworthy.
Richardson's involvement with GEFA began in the 1980s, when he was asked to serve on an advisory committee to help develop loan criteria for cities, counties and authorities in the state. He became a board member in January 2009.
Richardson served as District 3 representative Elmo Richardson and vice chairman on the Bibb County board
of commissioners. In his final term, he served as chairman of the Finance, License and Tax, Human Resources and Information Technology, Properties, and Risk Management and Public Safety Committees. Richardson was also chairman of the Construction Board of Appeals for Macon-Bibb County, and chairman of the State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors. He was first elected to the Bibb County board of commissioners in 2002, and was re-elected in 2004 and 2008.

Russell Hinton, who has served the state of Georgia for 38 years, retired

June 30, 2012, from his position as state auditor, and his last GEFA board

meeting was in May 2012. He was appointed state auditor in June 1999

and confirmed by the General Assembly in March 2000. Hinton also

began his tenure on the GEFA board of directors in 1999. Prior to his

appointment as state auditor, Hinton served as

director of the Professional Practice Division for

the Georgia Department of Audits and Accounts.

He was appointed to a three-year term of service

on the Advisory Council on Government Auditing

Standards in 2003, and was asked to serve another

term in 2007. Hinton graduated with honors from

the University of Georgia in 1974, and began his

career with the Office of the State Auditor.

Russell Hinton

Hinton has served in leadership positions in many professional and community organizations, including three terms on the Association of Government Accountants (AGA) national executive committee, two years as president of the National State Auditor's Association (NSAA), and president of the Atlanta Chapter of the AGA. In August 2007, he was appointed to the executive committee of the National Association of State Auditors, Comptrollers and Treasurers.

Currently, Richardson provides private consulting engineering services, after retiring from Stantec Consulting in 2005. He has more than 48 years of civil, environmental and sanitary engineering experience. Richardson earned a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology, and he has worked for and founded several engineering companies. Richardson also served in the Army from 1959 to 1962. He has received several professional and community awards, including Georgia Engineer of the Year, the Medal of Honor by the Georgia Engineering Foundation, and the Emory Greene Leadership Award by the Association County Commissioners of Georgia.
Richardson's last GEFA board meeting was in November 2012. He said of his role, "It has been a privilege to serve on the GEFA board, and to serve the most successful state program in existence in the past 20 years."
233 Peachtree Street NE Harris Tower, Suite 900 Atlanta, Georgia 30303
404-584-1000 (Main) 404-584-1069 (Fax)
www.gefa.org

For the past two years, Hinton has sponsored the Desire Cup Golf Tournament, a fundraising event held in conjunction with the annual University of Georgia-University of Florida football game held in Jacksonville, Fla. The event supports Desire Street Ministries, a nonprofit organization that works to assist impoverished communities through spiritual and community development.
In recognition of his work, Hinton was awarded the AGA National President's Award, as well as the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants 2010 Outstanding CPA in government state level award, and the NSAA William R. Snodgrass Distinguished Leadership Award.
Hinton said of his role on the GEFA board of directors, "As a native Georgian, I was cognizant and appreciative of the efforts of GEFA to assist Georgia's local communities by providing low-cost loans and subsidies to further their service to their citizenry. My service on the GEFA board also gave me the opportunity to build lasting relationships with the many dedicated state and local leaders that served on the board, as well as GEFA's innovative and professional staff. Through my service on the GEFA board, I truly felt that I made a contribution to the well-being of Georgians."

If you wish to add or remove yourself from this newsletter distribution, please email publicaffairs@gefa.ga.gov

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