Bradford County approves $3 million energy-saving project
Published: June 25, 2010
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TOWANDA - The Bradford County commissioners on Thursday unanimously approved a contract with Johnson Controls Inc. to undertake a $3 million project to make the six main buildings owned by the county more energy efficient.
The project is not being paid for with taxpayer dollars, the commissioners said.
Instead, over the next 15 years, the project will more than pay for itself through reduced utility bills and reduced maintenance costs on energy-related equipment, such as air conditioners and water boilers, said Steve Gates, a spokesman for the Bradford County Energy Management Committee.
The project is being done under the Guaranteed Energy Savings Act of 1998, the commissioners said.
Under that state law, Johnson Controls is guaranteeing that the project will save the county a total of $5,076,998 over the next 15 years in the form of reduced utility bills and reduced maintenance costs on equipment, Gates said.
If the savings achieved is the less than the amount guaranteed, then Johnson Controls must write a check to the county to cover the difference, he said.
"The project is completely safe for the taxpayers," said Bradford County Commissioner Doug McLinko. "(As part of the project) we'll get much-needed equipment and upgrades for our buildings."
The project includes numerous energy-saving measures, such as replacing the original single-pane windows in the Bradford County Courthouse, replacing a partially defective 120-ton air conditioning unit at the Bradford County Manor, and replacing two 1989-vintage boilers at the Bradford County jail with more energy-efficient ones, Gates said.
All of the measures will be implemented over the next year.
The contract now goes to Johnson Controls for their signature.
Johnson controls is in agreement with the terms of the contract, said Joan Sanderson, Bradford County fiscal director.
The project will definitely take place, Smith said.
"It's a state law that they (Johnson Controls) guarantee the savings," said John Sullivan, Bradford County commissioner.
To comply with the Guaranteed Energy Savings Act of 1998, Johnson Controls had to buy insurance for the project, the commissioners said. Therefore, if the project does not achieve the $5,076,998 in savings and Johnson Controls is financially unable to make a required payment to the county, then the insurance company would make the payment, said John Sullivan, Bradford County commissioner.
The commissioners also voted Thursday to advertise for banks to submit proposals to the county to provide a $3 million, 15-year bank loan to pay for the project.
After the bank loan is paid off in 15 years, the project will achieve at least $408,000 in savings each year for the county, mainly through reduced utility bills, Gates said.
Johnson Controls has a regional office in Wilkes-Barre.
James Loewenstein can be reached at (570) 265-1633; or e-mail: jloewenstein@thedailyreview.com.
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