County council Tuesday held an energy awareness press conference in the courtyard of the Government Center with two new Saturn Vue hybrid cars as the focal point.
Also on display was a solar panel, representing the 27 solar panels installed during the summer on the roof of the Sweeney Building on Front and Orange streets.
Other energy-saving initiatives outlined at the press conference include energy-control systems where the county maintenance staff can remotely turn lights and computers off, upgrades in heating, ventilating and air-conditioning systems, and replacement or modification of lighting fixtures.
"Our electric bill in this complex alone is about $1 million per year and by changing our lighting fixtures and pattern of use, we can reduce that significantly," council Vice Chairman Jack Whelan told the crowd gathered in the courtyard. "This is particularly critical now that we are faced with the removal of rate caps in a couple of years."
Councilwoman Christine Fizzano Cannon has been meeting frequently with the Energy and Environmental Advisory Board, appointed by council five months ago, and its subcommittee to develop a conservation road map for county government. Council will use the advisory board's input to develop an energy-conservation plan that will be included in the county's comprehensive plan.
"There is no question that we have to be energy efficient in this day and age," Fizzano Cannon said. "Whether it's gas prices, spikes in utility bills or concerns about air quality, it is clear that the way we produce and use energy is a critical issue for county government. And, if we conserve energy, we will also be conserving tax dollars."
The county purchased the two 2009 hybrid cars under a state contract at a price of $23,323 each. The cars will be used by the Department of Consumer Affairs and by the Parks and Recreation Department. Whelan noted the county has a fleet of 320 cars used in many capacities for county business and council recognized it could save fuel by using hybrid cars in the fleet. He said the Saturn Vue switches to electric-assist when the car is not accelerating.
"One national foundation whose mission is to curb (vehicle) idling estimates that if every American eliminated five minutes of needless idling daily, we would save 1.4 billion gallons of gas annually and spare the planet 13 million added tons of carbon dioxide," Whelan said.
According to Whelan, Pennsylvania has a Guaranteed Energy Savings Act that enables government agencies to contract for energy-saving improvements to facilities with a guaranteed savings in energy costs.
"This is a budget-neutral plan where the savings is guaranteed to match or exceed the cost," Whelan said. "Right now, we are finalizing a plan where we will retrofit our buildings with energy-saving upgrades."
Fizzano Cannon said she went up to the roof of the Sweeney Building, which houses the county public defender's office, to see the 27 photovoltaic panels of the roof.
The solar energy will mean a reduction in the fuel and electricity used to heat and air-condition the building. She said there are now solar panels on the roofs of seven buildings in Media Borough.
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