State honors Wales and Holland for energy audits

By JOHN APPLETON
jappleton@repub.com

The state director of energy efficiency commended Wales and Holland Wednesday for steps the towns are taking to make municipal buildings more energy efficient and said the state hopes to guide all 351 Massachusetts communities in this direction.

"There is a whole lot of activity in this area. There are a lot of tools in the toolbox, specifically for cities and towns," said Frank J. Gorke, director of the Department of Energy Resources efficiency division.

Wales has had a preliminary energy audit conducted on its few municipal buildings and this month is requesting proposals for a more detailed audit that would be followed up with building renovations to improve efficiency and cut energy costs.

Gorke said performance contracting and energy management services are the common names for the effort Wales is pursuing.

The company that successfully bids for Wales' detailed audit will recommend renovations such as windows, newer lighting and better insulation and will then hire contractors for the renovations.

The energy audit company will be paid for this work over a 10-year period from guaranteed savings on the town's energy bills.

Gorke said that through this system, which is overseen by his division, the town will wind up with significantly improved buildings and equipment but does not have to come up with the renovation money up front.

Wales Selectman Michael J. Valanzola became aware of this program and started the process for the town a little over a year ago.

In Holland, Selectmen Chairman James E. Wettlaufer was one of just 13 municipal officials in the state to apply for a free state energy audit early last year.

When the state sold carbon emission credits to businesses a few months ago, the recently enacted Green Communities Act required that proceeds be used for energy efficiency measures, and the 13 audited cities and towns were given grants to undertake the renovations recommended in the energy audits.

With its $112,475 grant, Holland will replace the windows at Holland Elementary School and do work at the fire station and library.

"If you make a town building more efficient and do it in the right way, your energy bill will go down and you will pay for the investment in anywhere from a handful of months to a handful of years," Gorke said.