City to audit its energy use
In 2006, the City worked with TechSolve, a not-for-profit organization specializing in operating process improvements, to complete an Energy Management Report using a program called Energy Achiever. Energy Achiever is a program designed to help organizations assess their current energy management practices, identify critical actions and provides a structured framework to achieve continuous improvement in energy management.
This Energy Management Report identified the City’s expenditures on electricity and natural gas and also identified critical areas on which the City should concentrate to improve its management of energy.
As a first step, the City will conduct a review of city-owned buildings to identify opportunities to reduce energy costs with minimal investment. Other actionable items to be done by the Energy Management Team to be fiscally responsible and environmentally conservative include:
- Review energy prices annually to ensure you are on the best rates.
- Conduct energy conservation awareness activities.
- Incorporate energy cost reductions in overall cost savings targets.
- Regularly create and review energy efficiency trends.
Each of these steps moves the City toward “greener” operations and stewardship of City resources. Also, the City may qualify for a grant from the State of Ohio which is available to pay for 50 percent of the initial energy audit. Watch for updates on “green” projects and initiatives being taken throughout the City.