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Board seeks building-level solar production data to show city savings
Summary
The Red Lodge Sustainability Board asked staff to collate building-level solar production (kilowatt-hours) using existing spreadsheets and utility bills so the city can see energy savings in dollar terms; board members will first review Jeff White's existing two-year dataset before contacting installers.
Members of the Red Lodge Sustainability Board reviewed options for compiling citywide solar-production data and translating those figures into dollar savings for municipal decision-makers.
Participants said Jeff White has already compiled two years of building-usage data and that the board should examine his spreadsheet before commissioning additional measurement. They discussed the practicality of using utility bills (NorthWestern Energy) or monthly production reports to calculate kilowatt-hours for each city-owned building with solar. One member suggested the simplest approach may be a periodic site read for a baseline rather than changing the app or telemetry.
The stated aim is to create a baseline (annual or monthly readings) that can be compared year over year and converted into estimated dollar savings so the board and city staff can demonstrate the financial value of installed systems. The board asked staff to request Jeff White's spreadsheet and for him to explain his methodology; if that proves insufficient, the installer Henry Daikema was identified as a potential technical contact.
No funding decision was made; members suggested initially using existing data and bills and to schedule a pool-site visit or a short presentation to walk through the existing charts before proceeding with new data-collection work.
