Athens City Council members deliberated the details of a more than $400,000 proposal to increase energy efficiency at the Athens Community Center at yesterday's Athens City Council Committee meeting.
The proposal focuses on conserving energy at the Athens Community Center, 701 E. State St., said Councilman Elahu Gosney, D-at Large.
City Council members discussed paying for the more than $400,000 proposal through various loans, Gosney said.
The center is a good starting point for the project because it is a large, energy-intensive building, Gosney said, adding that saving energy there would save money and help the environment.
(Saving energy at the center) is two-fold
he said.
Some improvements to the center would include installing two high-efficiency, double-pane windows, improving two hot water pumps, and upgrading the exterior lighting control panel, he said.
The proposal includes upgrading the lighting in the center's parking garage, he added.
The improvements to the lights in the garage could be paid for by the city without loans, said Athens Mayor Paul Wiehl.
Late last year, Wiehl put out an advertisement requesting energy efficiency proposals for the city and received two, Gosney said.
Gosney said he plans to put the first proposal, Phase 1, into action in the next few months if council members accept it.
The goal is to finish Phase 1 during the winter, he said.
The second proposal, Phase 2, which would include upgrades to the fire stations, the city hall building, the water treatment plant and municipal court, will be discussed at a later committee meeting, he said.
This proposal could be cash flow positive because the money saved from conserving energy could be used to repay the loans taken out to fund the projects, Gosney said.
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Emily Bowman
