State Touts $3.2M in Energy Savings With Upgrades to Danvers, Wrentham Centers

The figures are in: state officials say energy efficiency upgrades at the Hogan Regional Center in Danvers saved $2 million in energy costs and reduced emission of greenhouse gases by 77 percent in the past year.

Gov. Deval Patrick, administration officials, local lawmakers Sen. Joan Lovely and Rep. Ted Speliotis and town officials were all at the state facility Wednesday morning for a tour.

“State agencies are working together and leading by example to capture energy savings and leave a cleaner Commonwealth for generations to come.” said Department of Energy Resources Commissioner Mark Sylvia in a press statement.

“Every project we complete in a state building supports Massachusetts’ national leadership in energy efficiency, climate goals, and clean energy jobs growth, contributing to a better environment for businesses and residents,” Sylvia said.

Improvements were made at the Hogan Regional Center and the Wrentham Development Center, both which serve adults with intellectual disabilities, in 2011 as part of a combined $25 million energy project.

The Danvers center, in particular, was switched over from oil to natural gas. High efficiency boilers were installed, along with new lighting, better insulation, better building controls, solar hot water and solar power generation.

Department of Developmental Services Commissioner Elin Howe says the Hogan Center's heating system was antiquated and replaced with a much more "energy efficient and environmentally friendly" system.

The total project was funded with more than $20 million in state issued clean energy investment bonds (they will be financed with energy savings), a $128,000 solar thermal grant, more than $1 million in utility incentives and federal stimulus funds.

According to the state's figures, the upgrades to date eliminated more than 800,000 gallons of fuel oil in favor of natural gas, total energy consumption was reduced by 82 percent for heat and hot water, water usage dropped 50 percent, electricity consumption dropped by 16 percent and greenhouse gas emissions are down 77 percent.

The combined savings between the two facilities after the first year are $3.2 million, which has cut the total energy costs in half, greenhouse gas emissions are down 58 percent and oil consumption was cut by 1.6 million gallons. All told, that's equal to taking about 3,000 vehicles off the road.

Congressman John Tierney said in a statement that the Bay State continues to lead the way on energy efficiency and cities and towns across his district are embracing "cost-saving clean energy tools."

Lovely and Speliotis likewise offered praise for the impressive energy savings so far, noting the upgrades contribute to a better environment in the long-term as well as the continued operation of the facilities for years to come.