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NEK prisons using energy saving lights |
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Tuesday, 22 April 2008 |
By CHRISTOPHER ROY
Express Staff Writer
The Northern State Correctional Facility (NSCF) in Newport and the Caledonia Community Work Camp in St. Johnsbury have installed energy efficient lighting.
Al Simard, the district facilities manager for the state Department of
Buildings and General Services (BGS), said the project, which is
expected to save Vermont taxpayers several thousand dollars was
initiated by BGS engineers in Montpelier.
“We’ve been working on this for a couple of years,” he said Monday
afternoon. Besides changes with the Department of Corrections (DOC),
BGS has also changed the lighting at the Emory Hebard State Office
Building in Newport. “There, we went from some pretty big energy users
to some compact fluorescent lighting.”
Nicole Carpenter, the senior project manager for Efficiency Vermont,
said during a telephone interview Friday that Simard has been
interested in improving the efficiency at the facilities. That included
improving the lighting as well as making the heating and air
conditioning units come on only when the buildings are occupied. Simard
said that, like everyone else, the state feels the pinch and are trying
to reduce costs every way they can.
“We’re taxpayers too,” he said. “If we can save a nickel, we’re going to save a nickel.”
Michael Bellizzi, superintendent for the NSCF said the change has been
working well, but it will be a period of time before any saving is
noticed. He also said the lighting does not seem to be much different
than with the previously used system.
An energy audit funded by the state with a $125,000 federalRebuild
America grant identified ways to save electricity. According to
Carpenter, the auditor looked at all correctional facilities and court
houses in Vermont and outlined energy savings opportunities available
in each building.
Carpenter said this is the first time the DOC has been interested in
energy efficiency. It made the changes while maintaining security at
the facility.
“They are leading the way in terms of how to make the correctional
facilities more efficient,” she said. The work that has been done so
far will save taxpayers $15,000 per year and that will continue to
increase as more work is accomplished. “There are going to be more
measures that will be implemented. This is just the first step, and
it’s a huge one in the right direction, and it’s a sign of what’s to
come.”
Simard noted that to ensure the lighting at the prisons would not be
reduced, creating security hazards, light readings were taken before
and after the changes were made.
“When we take in old and put in new, we either increase lighting and
reduce the energy used or we don’t do it,” he explained. Simard added
that they can save money by shutting down the heating and ventilation
when certain areas, such as the gym, are not in use.
They also found that adding light sensors in rooms can ensure lights are turned off when an area is vacant.
“It’s really straightforward and common sense stuff,” said Simard. “We’re trying to do our part to keep costs down.”
Other correctional facilities are expected to follow suit, said Carpenter.
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 23 April 2008 )
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