Energy Efficient Enterprises | Success Stories

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the right rate

City of Lynch Fire Department

In early 2012, MACED’s Energy Efficient Enterprises team visited the City of Lynch in Harlan County to help the mayor and city staff decide what energy saving projects could be done to reduce electricity use and cost at city facilities. MACED’s E3 team was given access to several of the Kentucky Utility accounts in the city’s name, including that of the fire station. A quick review of the station’s electricity bill revealed that the station was not on the Volunteer Fire Department tariff offered by KU. All it took was one phone call from a City of Lynch employee to KU to put the station on the cheaper tariff. In the next twelve months, the station should save an estimated $185 from this billing correction alone.

City of Livingston Fire Department

In November of 2011, MACED’s Energy Efficient Enterprises team visited the City of Livingston in Rockcastle County. While there, the team talked to members of the volunteer fire department about the station’s electricity use and ways to save energy. At the same time, a quick review of the station’s electricity bill from Kentucky Utilities revealed that the station was not on the Volunteer Fire Department tariff offered by KU. All it took was one phone call from the fire station to KU to put the station on the cheaper tariff. In the next twelve months, the station should save an estimated $400 from this billing correction alone.

City of Harlan Fire Stations

In the spring of 2010, Harlan City Fire Chief Linette Hutchison contacted MACED’s Energy Efficient Enterprises team about finding ways to reduce the City of Harlan’s fire station electricity bills. Kentucky Utilities provides electricity to both the City of Harlan fire station on Main Street and on Skidmore Road. After reviewing the electricity bills of both stations and the tariffs of Kentucky Utilities, MACED’s E3 team discovered that both stations were eligible for KU’s Volunteer Fire Department tariff. The VFD tariff has a lower monthly charge and lower per kilowatt-hour rate than the General Service tariff both stations were on initially. For the two stations combined, annual estimated savings from this billing class change alone was $785.00.

Additional ways for the fire stations to save money included:

• Changing from electric truck heaters to propane ones that are cheaper to operate based on today’s propane and electricity rates.
• Installing an instantaneous propane water heater to provide what little hot water is needed at the station on an irregular basis.

• Installing occupancy sensors in the restrooms and other infrequently used rooms to switch lights off when the room is unoccupied.

• Relying on more day-lighting by installing tubular skylights in the ceiling.

• Ensuring all fluorescent lighting is high performance lighting.