For Immediate Release

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The City and Citizens Get Big Bang for the Buck with Energy Efficiency Funds

In September, 2009, the City of Littleton received $182,500 in Energy Efficiency Community Block Grant (EECBG) funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The city developed a program to distribute the funds among energy efficiency projects on city properties and also put the money into the pockets of businesses and citizens.

The City of Littleton spent a portion of the funds to complete a technical energy audit of 11 city-owned buildings to determine where the grant could be used to reduce energy costs with the shortest pay back period – the time it takes for the energy savings to pay for the cost of the improvements. A number of projects have been completed or are underway.

The largest of the city's projects will result in huge energy savings. The lighting in the original parking lot at the Littleton Center will be replaced by city staff. The existing parking lot lights consume 22,995,000 watts annually at a cost of $23,835. It is estimated that the new lighting system will consume 10,512,000 watts annually at a cost of $10,896, a savings of $12,939 each year. The payback period is only 14 months. Other energy efficiency improvements include upgrading the heating/ventilation/air conditioning system at Town Hall Arts Center, and replacing the lighting at Bemis Library.

Littleton homeowners were able to leverage rebates from the Governor's Energy Office and Xcel Energy with funds from the city. Fifty-six Littleton residents spent a total of $317,472 to purchase energy efficient furnaces and received rebates averaging $500. Ninety-seven Littleton citizens took advantage of rebates for insulation and air sealing. The average cost per customer was $957. Participants received an average rebate of $361.

Business owners have benefitted greatly through the Small Business Energy Efficiency Program. Rocky Mountain Harley Davidson received $2,100 in rebatesfrom the city for the installation of new energy efficient lights in its service area and exterior lighting. The project will reduce electricity consumption by 23,567 kWh and 3.48 kW each year, resulting in an eight percent annual savings of $1,800. Act II Consignment received $524 in rebates for an energy audit and new lighting that will save $374 in yearly energy costs. Mi Cocina Mexican Restaurant will receive $9,834 for lighting upgrades, ceiling and wall insulation, weather stripping, and a new roof top unit and will reduce its annual energy costs by about seven percent.

Under the leadership of Deputy City Manager Phil Cortese and Building Maintenance Supervisor Dave Stacey, the city has pursued many other energy efficiency projects in the past five years using general fund money. The staff is almost finished replacing all 600 u-tube lamps throughout the Littleton Center resulting in a reduction of almost 11,000,000 watts per year. The new lamps are earth friendly with a low mercury content. The division has also installed 200 motion sensing light switches in various buildings, programmable set-back thermostats in many locations for night time and weekend heating and air conditioning systems, and placed automated faucets in restrooms.