Unitil, a local provider of natural gas and electricity, is helping municipalities cut their carbon footprint through energy efficiency improvements in heating, cooling and lighting technologies at schools and other public facilities.
Over the past seven years municipal energy efficiency projects in Fitchburg, Mass., Gardner, Ashburnham, Ashby, Lunenburg, Townsend and Westminster have realized total savings of over 20 million kWh of electricity and 116,000 therms of natural gas, enough electricity to power 2,700 residential homes and natural gas to heat 165 homes for a year.
Some of the larger municipal buildings benefitting from the work include: Fitchburg’s Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical School; Fitchburg High School and the city’s Department of Public Works; Lunenburg Middle High School; and Gardner High School. In all cases, Unitil works side-by-side with local officials to help identify, design and implement energy efficiency improvements.
"We encourage all of our residential and commercial customers to explore what savings opportunities there may be through these same programs."
Alec O'Meara, Media Relations Manager
Altogether, the projects qualified for approximately $2 million in energy rebates to aid with the cost of the related conversion and energy efficiency projects. Upgrades to these facilities include: LED lighting, high efficiency boilers and HVAC systems.
"Unitil is a proud supporter of the Green Communities Act, and energy efficiency programs like the ones used to improve local schools and municipalities provide meaningful benefits to us all. We encourage all of our residential and commercial customers to explore what savings opportunities there may be through these same programs," said Media Relations Manager Alec O'Meara.
Information on energy efficiency programs can be found at unitil.com or masssave.com.
