April 15, 2010

Energy Efficiency Improvements to City Facilities Creates an Opportunity to Implement an Environmentally Friendly Solution for upgrading aged facilities

The City of Duarte will install energy efficiency improvements at various City facilities with no up-front costs. The savings in energy and maintenance costs will pay for the improvements and produce an average annual savings to the City of $34,700.

A comprehensive energy audit conducted for the City by PacificWest Energy Solutions, Inc. identified the energy projects that would generate the most savings for the City using stimulus grant funds, utility rebates and a low interest loan that will be repaid solely using cost savings.

“The improvements proposed will produce energy savings for the City while implementing an environmentally responsible solution to upgrading our aged facilities,” said Duarte City Manager, Darrell George.

Of the project’s total $499,214 cost, $122,117 will be paid from Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant funds that have been approved for the City as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Approximately $20,915 will be paid from utility rebates. The remaining $356,182 will be financed through a California Energy Commission Loan program that provides 15 year financing at a 1% interest rate. Repayment of the $385,335 loan will be derived solely from the energy savings generated by the project.

Proposed facility improvements will include: Lighting and Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning Systems (HVAC) replacements and upgrades for City Hall, Community Center, Fitness Center, South Maintenance Yard, Senior Center and Fitness Center; Building Control optimization for the City Towne Center, North and South Maintenance Yards, Senior and Teen Center, and two Recreation Center buildings; retro-commissioning of older mechanical equipment and pool pump and filtration optimization.

“The energy we will be saving by making these changes would be the equivalent to planting 3,872 trees, removing 28 cars from the roadways, reducing CO2 emissions by 151 metric tons, and supplying power to 14 homes. These improvements will increase energy efficiency, save money and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, a win-win all the way around,” said George.

For more information, call Duarte City Hall at (626) 357-7931, ext. 221.