Improving City Buildings through Energy Efficiency Savings - Not Taxpayer Dollars

By the end of 2011, the City of Northampton will have completed a $6.5 million capital improvement project that will reduce energy use in municipal and school buildings by more than 20% and will be paid for through energy savings – NOT taxpayer dollars. The City is upgrading nearly all municipal buildings, all elementary, middle and high school buildings, Lilly and Forbes libraries, and the Academy of Music.

Through this project, the City will:

• Significantly reduce municipal greenhouse gas emissions
  
• Improve comfort for City and school employees, students and patrons
  
• Increase the value of Northampton’s municipal and school building stock
  
• Keep more money in the local economy, as an alternative to paying for imported energy
  

Instead of using taxpayer dollars, the City will use over $450,000 in utility rebates, $150,000 in federal stimulus funds and redirect the energy savings – nearly $500,000 a year less in electric, gas, oil, propane and water bills – to pay for the financing needed to install:

• Upgraded lighting and lighting controls
  
• High-efficiency boilers
  
• Expanded and improved energy management controls
  
• Added insulation
  
• New windows
  
• Process upgrades at the waste water treatment plant
  
• Solar hot water systems
  
• High-efficiency exhaust fans, motors, and other equipment upgrades
  
• Low-flow water fixtures
  

In short, by shifting capital from paying energy bills to paying for building improvements the City is doing its part to Lead the Way toward a healthier more sustainable future.