June 29, 2009
Chandler going ‘Green’ through stimulus grants
By Councilmember Trinity Donovan
President Barack Obama’s approval of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 includes funding dedicated to sustaining our country’s natural resources. I am excited to say that Chandler will be the beneficiary of some of those funds for several municipal projects that will have a very positive effect on the City’s future operations.
Chandler has received an allocation of $2,274,500 through the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG). The purpose of this grant is to reduce energy use, reduce fossil fuel emissions and improve energy efficiency. Coincidentally, these objectives closely match those of the City’s. We have established a group of employees we call the “Green Team” to identify ways to increase energy efficiency, while preserving our natural resources. So it seemed like a natural fit for the City to pursue this grant.
There are 13 eligible activities under the EECBG program, and the City plans to participate in two areas: energy efficient retrofits and renewable energy development. The retrofits will consist of the replacement of several pieces of outdated equipment with more energy efficient items that include HVAC units in seven City buildings. We will also install chilled water pump motors in four buildings, interior lighting in two buildings and more efficient windows in two buildings.
Additionally, there are plans to install LED exterior lighting outside the Downtown Chandler Library that will result in cost savings in both energy and maintenance. Another retrofit involves the installation of a new energy controller at a City sewage lift station and solar photovoltaic arrays on 15 homes the City plans to purchase out of foreclosure through another local stimulus project.
A second area of funding for this project involves renewable energy development. There are several ventures in this area including the installation of a solar generating system on the parking structure at the future City Hall that will result in a reduction of the City’s energy use. This also furthers our commitment by taking a lead in building energy efficient buildings.
There are also plans for solar panels to be installed at the Appleby Road potable water site and solar thermal hot water heating at the Tumbleweed Recreation Center and two Chandler fire stations. It is anticipated that all of these projects will be implemented within the next 36 months.
While the purpose of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is to help stimulate the economy through the creation of jobs, in this case, it will also help Chandler become more sustainable. City staff from the Green Team will continue to look for innovative ways to reduce electricity, natural gas, fuel, water and paper consumption to support these efforts. One of the greatest benefits of the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant is the opportunity to be better stewards of public funds by saving money on energy costs, while lessening the impacts to our environment. This is an exciting opportunity for our City to demonstrate our commitment to promote energy efficiency and encourage businesses and residents to follow suit. |