| City Of Warwick Starts Stimulus-Backed Lighting Project |
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Installation Part of Broader Program that will reduce Utility Bills and Carbon Dioxide Emissions Mayor Scott Avedisian today announced the City has begun a project to install high-efficiency lighting in 22 municipal buildings. The work is being funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) and a grant for $830,200. The lighting installation, which will consist of retrofitting over 6,400 fixtures, is part of a broader energy retrofit and renewable energy program that will decrease utility costs and greenhouse gas emissions tied to city-owned facilities and infrastructure. The City selected energy expert Honeywell to manage the program, which started with a survey of all Warwick’s municipal buildings that helped indentify critical energy and infrastructure renewal measures. The subsequent program will help the city meet the environmental commitments it adopted as part of the U.S. Conference of Mayors’ Climate Protection Agreement. Additionally, utility incentives gained as part of this program will help pay for additional energy projects, which will continue to generate savings for the City. The energy improvements will reduce electricity consumption by an estimated 433,000 kilowatt-hours per year. The program will also decrease carbon dioxide emissions by nearly 171 metric tons each year. According to figures from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, this is equivalent to removing more than 38 cars from the road or the planting of 53 trees. The City of Warwick continues to be a leader in energy conservation and will continue its efforts into the future. Honeywell guarantees approximately $1.02 million in annual energy and operations savings as a result of the lighting upgrades and other improvements. So the work will not increase city operating budgets or require additional taxpayer dollars. “This program enables our city to move forward more rapidly with our environmental commitments, improve critical infrastructure and create jobs with no impact on our budget, and complements the variety of environmental programs and policies that we’ve implemented in the time I’ve been Mayor,” said Avedisian. “Working with Honeywell, we were able to extend our stimulus funds and develop a comprehensive program that will reduce utility bills and carbon emissions, and benefit residents for years to come.” “Maximizing stimulus funding through performance contracts can be a powerful tool in meeting environmental goals and reducing long-term costs,” said Paul Orzeske, president of Honeywell Building Solutions. “Honeywell has a long track record of helping municipalities like Warwick find the right mix of energy supply and conservation measures that will not only deliver environmental benefits, but also improve the bottom line.” The City expects that all the conservation measures will be completed this year. City officials and Honeywell are also planning a second phase of improvements and are currently developing renewable energy projects and other facility upgrades. Contact: Sue Baker, Warwick, 401-738-2000 Aaron Parker, Honeywell, 763-954-4257 |
