Unitil, (www.unitil.com), a provider of natural gas and electricity to customers in New England, worked with the town of Ashby to convert its elementary school’s lighting and refrigeration controls to more efficient technologies.'
"The Ashby Energy Committee has coordinated energy conservation projects at municipal buildings, fully funded by grants and incentives available through Unitil and the state."
Jim Hubert, Town of Ashby Energy Committee Chair
The project replaced 346 fluorescent lights with LED fixtures and bulbs at the Ashby Elementary School, reducing electric usage by approximately 50 percent. In addition, more efficient controls were installed in the cafeteria’s walk-in refrigerators.
"For the past several years, the Ashby Energy Committee has coordinated energy conservation projects at municipal buildings, fully funded by grants and incentives available through Unitil and the state. These projects improve Ashby’s economic and environmental resilience for future generations," said Jim Hubert, Ashby's Energy Committee Chairperson.
The improvements qualified for a total of approximately $36,000 in Unitil rebates. The remaining costs were fully funded by grants from the state’s Department of Energy Resources through the Green Communities Act. Altogether, the improvements will create annual electric savings of nearly 55,000 kWh per year, or the equivalent of approximately 7.5 residential homes.
“These types of initiatives can make a real difference. We’re thrilled that we were able to work with the Town of Ashby to facilitate this project,” Alec O’Meara, Media Relations Manager for Unitil said. “Greater energy efficiency at town and school facilities helps keep tax dollars going to the areas of greatest need within the community, and that is something which benefits us all.”
