Unitil Corporation, (www.unitil.com), a provider of natural gas and electricity to customers throughout New England, partnered with the Fitchburg Redevelopment Authority to make energy efficiency improvements to Putnam Place.
The 300,000 square feet of commercial and manufacturing space at 166 Boulder Drive, Fitchburg, Mass. had 300 light fixtures converted to LEDs along with new lighting controls, in addition to the installation of variable frequency drives for their water and heating systems.
“This project not only is good for the environment by saving over 113,000 kWh of electricity annually but makes for a brighter and more comfortable workspace for our tenants,” Meagen Donoghue, executive director for Fitchburg Redevelopment Authority, said.
The project received approximately $52,000 in energy efficiency rebates. “These type of initiatives are a win-win, not only by reducing the facility’s carbon footprint but also by significantly shortens the payback period for the businesses because of the rebates,” Alec O’Meara, media relations manager for Unitil, said. “This is quite a savings in electricity, it is the equivalent to what over 15 homes would use on an annual basis.”
Unitil vendor AECOM conducted the audit and managed the lighting project. “It was a seamless process for the Fitchburg Redevelopment Authority since we managed the audit and oversaw the installation of the new equipment,” Casey Sheehey, title here for AECOM. Small businesses interested in learning more about an energy audit are encouraged to contact Unitil.
