Headlines

As reported by Norwalk Plus, October 13, 2009.

Governor Rell: Stimulus-funded Energy Efficiency Work Begins with Two UConn Health Center Projects

By Governor Rell's Office

Governor M. Jodi Rell today highlighted a stimulus-funded energy efficiency project under way at two University of Connecticut Health Center buildings that is replacing old, power-hungry lighting fixtures with new fixtures and lighting controls.

“This $420,000 project removes aging and inefficient lights using incandescent or fluorescent bulbs and replaces them with modern fixtures that consume a fraction of the energy,” Governor Rell said. “Hospitals and medical buildings are enormous consumers of energy – from high-intensity lighting in operating rooms and examination rooms to hallways that are constantly kept lit because of the ‘24/7’ nature of hospital operations. This project will make a substantial reduction in those costs – saving money for patients and taxpayers – and create jobs in the ‘green collar’ industry, a sector we have identified as having major potential for growth.

“This is the first of a number of energy-efficiency projects, paid for with federal stimulus dollars, that will have a long-term positive effect on our bottom line while keeping and creating jobs,” the Governor said. “The stimulus package is designed to boost economic development. At the same time, we intend to use it to bring our major state buildings into the 21st century in terms of energy efficiency and cost savings.”

The buildings are located at 16 Munson Road in Farmington – a five-floor, 122,583-square-foot structure built in 1971 – and 65 Kane Street in West Hartford, a three-story, 39,154-square-foot building dating to 1986. The Munson Road building houses UCHC’s offices for Human Resources, Information Technology, Finance and Grants, and Facility and Planning. The Kane Street building is home to medical offices for primary care, pediatrics, psychiatry, genetics and obstetrics-gynecology.

The scope of work consists of the removal of old, inefficient lighting (incandescent, fluorescent, metal halide or high pressure sodium lamps) and magnetic or electronic ballasts. They are being replaced with higher efficiency lighting, new wiring and fixtures and occupancy sensors and photocells. Completion is set for June 2010.

“These are the first of 16 projects to be funded with a total of $5 million in energy efficiency money from the stimulus,” Governor Rell said. “The projects will provide long-term energy savings for the state, so we are eager to move them from design and into the construction phase quickly while providing more opportunities for workers in these industries.”

As part of the projects, the Department of Public Works is conducting detailed facility energy audits and overseeing design, bidding and construction. The final result will be quality lighting, a better work environment and significant savings.