I’m so proud of this project. There’s cost savings for us, but there are also environmental savings. These lights will last a lot longer so we won’t have to box up the fluorescent lighting and pay to have them shipped off.
Main project details
Considered to be the most significant improvement project since opening in 2015, the Exeter Area YMCA took steps to create a greener building by taking advantage of more than $72,000 in energy efficiency incentives.
The energy savings measures included the replacement of 335 interior and exterior fluorescent and HID lighting fixtures with LED lights and the installation of 10 variable frequency drives on rooftop HVAC units to cut energy consumption.
The light replacement work cost $70,155, but was offset by $52,616 in energy efficiency incentives provided by Unitil through NHSaves. The new LED lights are expected to reduce the kilowatt hours used annually at the center by 133,678, potentially saving the YMCA more than $20,000 a year.
The installation of variable frequency drives cost $26,289, which was offset by $19,717 in additional energy efficiency incentives. The equipment is estimated to lower energy usage by 41,636 kilowatt hours a year, which could lead to an annual savings of nearly $6,250.
Unitil also worked with AECOM, a global infrastructure consulting firm hired to conduct a turnkey energy audit of the facility to identify opportunities for energy efficiency projects.
