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The Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Council (MOVRC) secured $875,023.64 in Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) from West Virginia Division of Energy (WVDOE) in 2010 for the goal of making energy-saving improvements throughout local government unit (LGU) facilities. Our objective was to spend approximately $806,175.59 in a manner that would yield the most savings per dollar used. Benefits to the LGUs via energy upgrades and retrofits included window replacement, lighting upgrades, and HVAC system improvements.
Projects selected for energy-saving improvements showed considerable savings during the application process and so far, these projects have accomplished meeting or exceeded savings estimates after completion.
A prime example of these savings is the Roane County Courthouse located in Spencer. The 45 year courthouse is a 22,500 square foot facility consists of two climate controlled floors; this presented two issues: inefficient HVACs were overusing utility in order to control climate in a very large building where dated windows caused severe temperature loss. The Roane County Courthouse EECBG projects entailed HVAC and windows replacement. Although the project has only been completed for several months, the savings are apparently 30% more than the previous year. The Roane County Commission also received additional EECBG funding to replace lights throughout the courthouse with high efficiency LED bulbs.
The state regional councils completed 141 projects that were recognized by the U.S. Department of Energy for exceptional community development. Through the various projects $9.5 million dollars were invested in energy retrofits that promoted green technology and cost efficiency. The projects are estimated to return $830,520 in statewide annual savings.
NADO is a Washington, DC-based association that promotes programs and policies that strengthen local governments, communities, and economies through regional cooperation, program delivery, and comprehensive strategies. The association's Innovation Awards program recognizes regional development organizations and partnering organizations for improving the economic and community competitiveness of our nation's regions and local communities. Award winners were showcased during NADO's 2013 Annual Training Conference, held August 24 - 27 in San Francisco, California.
"For nearly 30 years, NADO's Innovation Award has provided regional development organizations the opportunity to be recognized for their hard work and dedication to promoting economic development in rural and small metropolitan communities across the country. Building on the unique strengths and challenges of each region and community, award recipients continue to promote sustainable economic growth not only now, but for many years to come. And I am pleased to announce that this year over 100 regional development organizations were selected to receive NADO's 2013 Innovation Award," said NADO President John Leonard, Executive Director of the Southern Georgia Regional Commission in Valdosta, GA.
For more information about the award-winning project, contact the Region 5-Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Council Bob Leach at 304-422-4993.
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