Unitil, (unitil.com), a provider of natural gas and electricity to customers in New England, partnered with town of Townsend to secure over $158,000 of energy efficiency grants from Massachusetts’ Department of Energy Resources through the Green Communities Act.
The grant will fund heating, cooling and electric efficiency improvements in the town hall, fire and police stations, highway department, library building and recreation center, cutting its annual electric usage by an estimated 75,038 kWh and natural gas by 7,138 therms.
It is important that we are proactive in reducing our energy usage, which not only benefits taxpayers but is good for the environment as well as improving the overall comfort of our facilities.”
Ross Perry, Townsend, MA Interim Town Manager
The $195,221 of improvements also qualified for $36,646 in energy efficiency rebates, so no town funds were required.
“These grants, coupled with the energy efficiency rebates, eliminated the payback period, so the town realizes savings immediately,” Unitil Media Relations Manager Alec O’Meara said “This is a significant reduction in energy usage, its equivalent to what 10 homes use in electricity annually.”
Each building received a comprehensive energy audit to identify which of the following upgrades were needed: automatic energy controls, condensing water heater, EC motors on DHW circulation pumps, high efficiency condenser, kitchen hood controls, LED lighting upgrades and controls, refrigeration controls, VFD and weatherization. The work is slated to begin in November.
