Program Saves Local Company 18 Percent in Energy Saving
TAVARES, CA – April 9, 2012 – (RealEstateRama) — Sometimes the best way to lead is by example, and that’s what the Lake County Board of County Commissioners (BCC) hopes residents and commercial business owners will see in the energy savings from the recently completed Retrofit Pilot Program. The BCC dedicated funds from the Department of Energy’s Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) to retrofit a local commercial business building and residential home with energy-efficient upgrades.
The BCC held a contest, where contestants were selected at random. I Was Framed, an art and décor store in Mount Dora, was chosen as the local commercial building to conduct an energy audit and retrofit as a demonstration of potential energy savings. Ralph Roane’s home in Mascotte was selected to receive an energy audit and retrofit as well. Both buildings received sealing, insulation and energy-efficient lighting improvements to reduce energy waste.
“I believe I saved electricity with the program,” said Erwin Wyss, owner of I Was Framed. “I’m really pleased and I think it’s a really good project.”
As a result of these improvements, Lake County has estimated an 18 percent or $162 in annual energy savings for I Was Framed. Roane can expect six percent or $51 in annual energy savings. To determine these energy savings, Lake County calculated the energy needed to heat or cool the buildings based on the outside air temperature with the actual energy consumption. The energy consumption for Roane’s home was measured over a period of a year and a half and I Was Framed was measured over three years. The outside air temperature was based on past weather data.
The average household spends more than $2,200 on energy bills each year with nearly half going toward heating and cooling costs.
“Making improvements like these on a home or small business building can make a large difference in energy costs and the impact to the environment for years to come,” said Lori Barnes, Sustainability Planner for Lake County.
For more information, visit www.GoGreen.LakecountyFl.gov. Twitter users can follow Lake County @LakeCountyEECBG.
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Lake County media contact:
Kelly LaFollette
Information Outreach Director
Office: 352-343-9603; Cell: 352-455-0445
klafollette (at) lakecountyfl (dot) gov
