BARTOW, Fla. (October 6, 2009) – The Polk County Board of County Commissioners was awarded $4,448,600 through The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to support the county’s energy efficiency and conservation initiatives. Polk will use the funds for the energy efficiency and conservation strategy, which was approved by the U.S. Department of Energy.
The projects include an energy audit of the downtown Bartow government buildings, building control systems and equipment upgrades for the Neil Combee Administration Building, Bartow Courthouse, Historical Library and Museum, Property Appraiser and Supervisor of Elections buildings, a fire alarm system upgrade for the Neil Combee Administration Building and replacing the roof on the South County Jail.
The projects for downtown buildings will result in an estimated $350,000 annual cost savings in utility bills. Replacing the roof on the South County Jail should result in 10-15% annual energy reduction costs, with an estimated annual utility savings of $66,000. Once they begin, the project should take approximately 12 months to complete.
The U.S. Department of Energy’s Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Program was funded for the first time by the Recovery Act to provide funding to cities, counties, states and Indian tribes nationwide to help them improve their energy efficiency, reduce their energy use and fossil fuel emissions, and create green jobs locally.
The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program, through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, is an important and historic step in restoring the partnership between the federal government and the nation’s counties.
“Counties have been actively engaged for many years in promoting energy efficiency and green government practices in their communities,” said National Association of Counties President Valerie Brown, supervisor, Sonoma County, Calif. “It’s a win-win-win by creating new jobs, putting dollar savings back into the community, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.”
For more information about EECBG visit www.eecbg.energy.gov, contact Kelly Zonderwyk, NACo Project Manager at (202) 942-4224, or contact Polk County Facilities Director Terry Pittman at 863-534-5523 or terrypittman@polk-county.net. Visit Polk County on the web, www.polk-county.net.
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