February 28, 2008

The Utah Geological Survey's State Energy Program has recently awarded grants to improve the energy efficiency of public buildings. Applications were evaluated according to their feasibility, cost effectiveness, overall energy savings, and geographic considerations to include the entire State.

There were eight applicants, of which five were selected for full or partial awards. The funding is from state and federal sources, specifically the Department of Energy and the Governor's Energy Advisor. The amount of the grant awards totaled $58,295, which helps leverage an actual investment of approximately $600,000. Additionally, local utility incentives will contribute almost $20,000 of the combined project costs. The total annual energy cost savings is estimated at more than $43,000, which corresponds to conserving roughly 6.4 billion Btu's of electricity and natural gas.

According to William Chatwin, Energy Efficiency Specialist for the State Energy Program, “These grants foster capacity-building in communities throughout the State. First, the application process familiarizes public employees with the energy consumed by our buildings, and helps them develop skills to pursue future grant opportunities. Then when the projects are implemented capacity is increased again because of the energy cost savings, so that tax dollars can go to programs rather than facility operating costs.”

Awards summary:

• The City & County Building of Salt Lake City was awarded $15,000 toward a lighting retrofit. The exterior lights illuminating the clock tower will be replaced along with conference room and display lighting inside the building.

• The Gallivan Center, run by the Redevelopment Agency of Salt Lake was awarded $3,845 to conduct a lighting retrofit. The retrofit includes occupancy sensors plus the replacement of incandescent bulbs and obsolete fluorescent lamps.

• Midway City Hall was awarded $9,450 to complete an upgrade of the facility HVAC system. A 2007 grant was used for an overhaul of the furnace system for the chambers. The current award brings two additional zones up to high efficiency standards.

• The Sorenson Multicultural Center was awarded $15,000 to offset a fraction of the costs of a facility-wide energy efficiency retrofit. Some of the projects involved are HVAC, lighting, and premium efficiency motor upgrades, plus heat recovery from the swimming pool exhaust air.

• The city of St. George was awarded $15,000 for a partial lighting retrofit of the waste water treatment plant. The administration building will incorporate new lights and occupancy sensors, and exit signs throughout the facility will be replaced with LEDs that use 1/10 as much power.

For more information regarding the program please contact William Chatwin, State Energy Program Energy Efficiency Specialist, at (801) 538-5412 or Denise Beaudoin Brems, State Energy Program Partners Coordinator, at (801) 538-4798.