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Governor Steve Beshear's Communications Office
Gov. Beshear, First Lady announce savings in energy, utility costs in Capitol campus buildings
FRANKFORT, Ky. – Governor Steve Beshear and First Lady Jane Beshear today reiterated their commitment to making the Commonwealth a national leader in the conservation of energy use in public buildings as they announced the implementation of several new permanent energy conservation initiatives on the Capitol campus.
The work being done at the Executive Mansion, the State Capitol building, the Capitol Annex and the boiler and chiller plants, both located behind the Annex, is estimated to save more than $251,000 annually in energy and operational expenses and will reduce energy consumption by 22 percent. The project will cost $2.6 million and will be repaid entirely by the savings realized through the 24 percent reduction in utility costs.
“Reducing energy consumption in government buildings is an integral part of my energy policy,” said Gov. Beshear. “The progressive changes we are making on the Capitol Campus will have a positive, long-lasting impact on our environment and will also save tax dollars. I’m excited that Kentucky continues to lead the nation in terms of progressive action on energy reduction and savings.”
“Reducing energy use in public facilities is a critical element of the Governor’s comprehensive strategy for energy independence,” said Dr. Len Peters, secretary of the Energy and Environment Cabinet. “By taking the lead in realizing this important element of that plan, the state Capitol campus sets an excellent example for other public facilities across the Commonwealth.”
As Kentucky prepares to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Earth Day on April 22, Mrs. Beshear proudly announced that, upon completion of the efficiency projects, energy consumption at the Executive Mansion will be reduced by 15 percent. She set that goal, as well as a further 30 percent reduction by 2014, on Earth Day 2008 as a part of her plan called “Greening the People’s Home.”
“I am very proud that we have achieved this milestone in reducing our impact on the environment during the time my family has the honor of residing in the historic Governor’s Mansion,” said Mrs. Beshear. “The conservation enhancements and upgrades from this project will supplement the many low-cost measures and simple efficiency practices we have already adopted at the mansion.”
“Through their actions and through the policies and programs they avidly employ, Gov. and Mrs. Beshear consistently demonstrate their dedication to reducing waste and energy usage, saving tax dollars and preserving our Commonwealth,” said Jonathan Miller, secretary of the Finance and Administration Cabinet. “We must all take action to make our homes, workplaces and communities more environmentally friendly.”
Energy Systems Group, an energy services company, will perform the work through an Energy Savings Performance Contract (ESPC) with the Finance and Administration Cabinet. An ESPC is an agreement in which energy-efficiency improvement projects for government agencies are financed through the cost savings the project is guaranteed to produce. Once the cost of the design, installation and maintenance of the Capitol campus energy conversation measures are paid, all further savings will generate revenue for the Commonwealth indefinitely.
The energy conservation projects on the buildings of the Capitol campus include: lighting upgrades; water conservation measures; vending machine controllers; chiller plant optimization; chemical-free water treatments at the chiller plant; replacement of steam traps; improvements in the air pressure of the mansion; automation systems in the Annex; and electrical transformer replacement.
Energy Systems Group operates out of Newburgh, Ind., with offices in 18 states, including an office in Louisville, Ky. Since 2003, ESG has developed more than $22.7 million in ESPC projects for Kentucky colleges and universities, healthcare facilities and other state agencies, resulting in over $27.3 million in guaranteed energy savings.
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