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08/20/2019 12:00 AMA vote passed unanimously by the 20-plus residents at the Aug. 13 special town meeting will result in $359,846 in energy efficiency upgrades to the Deep River Elementary School, the Library, and the Town Hall.
According to First Selectman Angus McDonald, the impetus for this project came about last fall after a suggestion by Eversource. New England Energy Controls Inc. (NEEC) investigated the scope of the project and brought a suggested plan back to the town.
“I said yes to the project as long as it was going to be cash neutral,” said McDonald.
Driven mainly by the size of the Deep River Elementary School building, McDonald explained that the major portion of the project will involve the upgrade of all lighting in that building to energy saving LED lighting.
“This is going to save the town a tremendous amount of energy and some money, but that money will go back into the program and used mostly for the replacement cost of the pneumatic valves on the heating system at the school.”
Deep River Elementary School Facilities Director Pete Waz noted that the current system components at the school are old causing air leaks and uneven heating.
“Immediate savings will be realized in the town’s electricity costs by replacing current lighting in all three buildings with LED lighting and the updating of components in our heating systems will reduce maintenance costs and increase efficiency,” said McDonald, who anticipates savings of approximately $9,000 per year in maintenance costs.
Work started immediately in all the public portions of the elementary school building with a goal of completing that portion of the project prior to the first day of school on Thursday, Aug. 29. Hopes are that the entire project will be completed within the next four to five months.
Deep River resident Nancy Fischbach said that this project seemed like a fiscally sound project for the town.
“At worst, we will break even in the short run, but the long run promises significant savings for the taxpayers.”
The cost of the total project is approximately $350,000, however, because of grants and incentives being offered from Eversource, the town will only be paying $282,000.
The Aug. 13 vote authorized the town to appropriate $359,846 for the costs of the project and to borrow an amount not to exceed $282,046 over 10 years at an interest rate not to exceed 3.43 percent to finance the town’s share of the project costs after grants. The vote also authorized McDonald to enter into contracts for the project.