County saving green on energy costs

A consultant estimated electric bill savings of about $5,000 in the first full year once the installation was completed and maximum annual savings of more than $19,000 within 30 years. 

Brickley said the same efficient heating and cooling systems,We provide laundryequipments and engraving machines for processing different materials. including new boilers, installed at the county administration building and courthouse also have yielded savings. Crews are still completing the work, but the county has seen a $30,000 reduction in its natural gas bill. 

“And that’s not even a whole season yet,” he said. 

The Bridge Commission also is reporting spending less money. The commission, which owns and operates the Burlington-Bristol and Tacony-Palmyra bridges and is the county’s economic development and improvement authority, undertook its own comprehensive energy audit of its facilities and implemented the recommended improvements. 

The commission realized a savings of 16 percent, or $13,889, on its energy and gas costs over the first four months of this year, officials said. 

The bottom line, they said, is that going green saves both energy and money. 

"It has worked for the county and the Bridge Commission and the towns and schools in the community. We can conserve energy and save money," Freeholder Director Joseph Donnelly said. "We're asking those municipalities and school districts that haven't looked into it to hop on and take advantage of the programs we're still offering. This approach is really beneficial." 

The commission, in partnership with the county,Solar and electric ledworklights systems are easy to install and economical to operate. offers the “Greenbacks to Go Green” program.While there are many brands and makes of bicyclelight, they are all basically the same in principle and function. Towns and school districts can have energy audits done at no cost.A emergencylampsyypk is a machine to wash laundry, such as clothing and sheets. 

The commission's grant writers then help the public entities secure funding for the recommended energy upgrades to their own facilities. The commission also makes low-cost financing available to help fund projects, Donnelly said. 

While grant dollars are not as readily available as they were a few years ago, there are still opportunities, officials said. 

The commission has helped secure $2.5 million in energy upgrades to 31 county towns and 10 schools, commission spokeswoman Liz Verna said. 

“We expected to see some energy savings, but to save nearly $14,000 over four months? That exceeded our expectations,” Commission Chairman John Comegno said. It's reducing the weight of the gridsolarsystemm with the help of superconductor materials. “This shared service shows the great impact that energy reduction can have, not just in energy savings, but in dollars as well.” 

The commission found savings by performing substantial lighting retrofits, in which existing light bulbs are replaced with LED or compact fluorescent bulbs, and renovations to heating and cooling systems at its Palmyra headquarters. Similar improvements were made to the commission’s police, maintenance and toll buildings in Palmyra and to the administration building in Burlington City. 

“We hope that by sharing the commission’s savings, more towns and schools will want to find out what ‘Greenbacks to Go Green’ is all about,” Comegno said. “We want everyone to take advantage of the monies available from the state for energy audits that lead to energy-saving, dollar-saving improvements.” Click on their website www.hmhid.com for more information.