An architectural firm, Berggren and Woll, and Fred Thompson and Associates, an engineering firm, both of Lincoln, conducted an energy audit of the Adams County Courthouse. The Adams County Board of Supervisors had approved the $2,500 audit in October.
Representatives of the two firms reported back to the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday.
On the basis of a physical examination of the building and information provided by blueprints and custodian Marvin Hartman, the firms recommended six energy conservation plans that they said could save Adams County more than $55,000 each year.
The board members, after hearing the report, generally agreed that most of the recommendations warranted further study.
The recommendations:
The county could meter water that does not go into the city's sanitary sewer separately to reduce the county's sewer fee. Annual energy cost savings is estimated at $9,000, with a six-month payback on the costs of the meters.
The county could install a separate heating and air-conditioning system in the sheriff's office. Costs would then be reduced by shutting off the main system in the courthouse on
|
weekends and holidays. Annual savings is estimated at $13,000, with a 1½-year payback on an estimated initial cost of $15,500.
The county could install variable volume fans to reduce energy requirements of fans that currently move more air than needed for the heating and air-conditioning systems. Annual savings is estimated at $9,000, with a 4½-year payback on an estimated initial cost of $40,800.
The county could install inside glass panels on the existing glass to reduce heating and air-conditioning losses. Annual energy cost savings is $6,000, with a 12-year payback based on an initial cost of $75,000.
The county could install new dampers. Annual energy cost savings is estimated at $550, with a 2½-year payback on an initial investment of $1,200.
The county could replace pre-cooling coils in the air-conditioning system. This would result in an estimated annual cost savings of $1,300, with a 10-year payback on an initial cost of $12,600.
Quotation from Supervisor Lavern Mosier: "It's something that has to be done in due time. If kept up-to-date, we will have a useful building."
|
Exercise 20.2
(24.0K)
2007 McGraw-Hill Higher Education