Unitil, (unitil.com), a provider of natural gas and electricity to New England customers, has partnered with the City of Saco on a multi-facility natural gas conversion project, helping the city save over $24,000 to date.
Throughout the last four years, Unitil and the City of Saco installed a modern HVAC system at the Saco Community Center and completed a natural gas conversion project at numerous other municipal buildings, including the Saco police station, city hall and several school facilities. Since the conversions, the facilities have collectively saved between $6,000 and $8,000 in fuel costs per year. Much of these savings can be attributed to reduced maintenance costs since the newly installed gas boilers require less upkeep than the previous oil boilers. By converting from oil to gas, the city saved the equivalent of 132,000 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions per year, an amount equal to the annual emissions of approximately seven residential homes.
The updated HVAC system at the Saco Community Center included modern air filtration technology that helped make the city’s pandemic response more effective. It was fitted with a cold plasma generator to help clean air pass through—an essential component to ensure visitors were entering the facility safely throughout the pandemic.
“The Unitil team has been instrumental in helping to ensure the City of Saco runs efficiently,” said Bryan Kaenrath, Saco’s City Administrator. “This conversion product has helped us both lower our greenhouse gas emissions while also saving money—savings that will allow us make local tax dollars go that much further."
With the updated air conditioning system, the community center is cooler in the summer months, which is especially beneficial during summer camp sessions. The system also ensures the temperature is comfortable when hosting community events.
“We’ve enjoyed working with the city of Saco on a variety of projects throughout the last few years,” said Alec O’Meara, Unitil Media Relations Manager. “We’ve established a long-lasting relationship with the city and are thrilled that we’re able to help them generate cost savings for years to come.”
More information on converting to natural gas can be found at unitil.com.
About City of Saco
Welcome to Saco, a city that is “friendly by nature.” Here you’ll find beautiful beaches, a picturesque downtown, friendly neighbors, and much more. The City of Saco is located at the mouth of the Saco River in southern Maine along the Atlantic Ocean, less than 20 minutes south of the Greater Portland Area, and less than two hours north of Boston, Massachusetts.
Home to a growing population of 19k+ residents, a revitalized and repurposed mill district, world-class education system, a picturesque downtown, a thriving economy, and many recreational opportunities, including fishing, hiking, biking, and kayaking, the City of Saco has plenty to offer residents, visitors, and businesses alike.
Saco’s Community Center offers programming for all ages, building community through people, parks, and programs.
