Politics & Government

Selected County Buildings to Undergo Energy-Saving Renovations

Stimulus money funding cost of retrofitting, one Peachtree Corners park included in plan.

To help reduce energy costs Gwinnett County has identified 41 county buildings, to be retrofitted with new plumbing, mechanical and air conditions which is expected to reduce utility costs by about $220,000 per year.

The retrofitting includes some fire stations, parks and the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center. One park in the Peachtree Corners area has been selected for energy-savings improvements.

"The only facility in the area that is on the retrofit list is Pinckneyville Park which is slated for light bulb replacement to switch from incandescent to compact fluorescent bulbs, said Ron Hovell, Director of Capital Projects for the county in an email message. "There is no work planned at Fire Station No. 4."

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Last year the county performed energy audits of more than 100 buildings and identified relatively inexpensive ways that are expected to save an estimated one million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electric power every year.

The same audits also found other places where new lighting, boilers, motor drives and insulation could save another 13 million kWh.

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According to a recent press release issued by Gwinnett County, Capital City Mechanical Services, Inc., was the low bidder for part of the work at $425,038, while electrical work went to low bidder Capital City Electrical Services, Inc., at $364,596. The project is funded entirely by federal stimulus money from the U.S. Department of Energy.

 Gwinnett has also used stimulus money to finish upgrading all traffic signals from incandescent light bulbs to LEDs, saving an additional 200,000 kWh/year while reducing maintenance expenses.

 Hovell said, “We’ve been diligent about finding ways to cut costs at all Gwinnett County facilities but it was the stimulus money that made these projects possible.”


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