By DAVID CLOUSTON

Salina Journal

State and municipal buildings in Kansas have seen savings from a state program to make them more energy efficient, and Salina someday could experience a similar benefit.

That benefit realized from shaving 15 percent to 25 percent of current operating costs is the reason Salina City Commissioners voted unanimously Monday to authorize an energy audit under the state's Facility Conservation Improvement Program.

Commissioners authorized the agreement with Chevron Energy Solutions of Overland Park at their weekly meeting.

The conservation improvement program is designated for the use of schools, state agencies, and county and city governments to replace inefficient windows, heating and air conditioning, lighting and other systems.

Chevron Energy Solutions is one of four energy service companies designated by the state to work with clients. The companies do audits to determine where energy savings can be realized, then do the engineering and design for the work, as well as acting as general contractors.

The cost of auditing nine city-owned buildings under the agreement with Chevron is $12,012.

Doing it on the cheap

"One of the advantages of this is, if we tried to contract with Chevron independent of the state program for the exact same review, it would probably be two or three times this cost," City Manager Jason Gage told commissioners.

If, after the audit, commissioners choose not to proceed with the recommended improvements, the city would pay Chevron the audit costs. If commissioners choose to move forward and have Chevron perform the work, the audit costs would be absorbed within the construction costs.

If the expected savings aren't generated, based on an annual review, Chevron would be required to pay the city the difference between the actual costs and what Chevron said the savings would be, Gage said.

The improvements would be paid for with financing through a lending institution at rates 3 percent to 5 percent lower than comparable commercial leases.

The nine buildings to be audited are the Salina Police Department, Memorial Hall, Salina Community Theatre, the Smoky Hill Museum, fire stations 1 and 2, the Salina-Saline County Health Department, the Municipal Golf Course clubhouse, and the Bicentennial Center.

The City-County Building wasn't included, because it's shared by multiple government agencies and it already has replaced windows and gone to a more efficient heating and cooling system, plus more energy efficient florescent bulbs, Gage said.

Such programs elsewhere in Kansas also have included water-saving equipment, roofs and even integration of alternative electricity methods, such as wind power.

As examples, Kansas State University implemented a $19 million campuswide energy efficiency project through the conservation improvement program. The Scott County School District recently implemented a nearly $1 million project through the program.

Commissioner Alan Jilka questioned Chevron representative John O'Herron at the meeting about the relationship between Chevron and the state's energy conservation program. O'Herron explained that his original company was acquired by the energy giant in 2003. The energy auditing business is separate from the oil side of the business, he said.

"We've been a pioneer in energy conservation services since 1974. That's all our group does; we have 300 employees doing energy conservation work," O'Herron said.

Other items approved Monday by the commission included:

n Final acceptance of zoning changes needed for commercial development at the northwest corner of the Ohio Street-Schilling Road intersection.

n Approved 5-0 an ordinance enabling a curb-cut entrance on Ohio Street as part of a proposed office and retail center to be built at the northeast corner of Cloud and Ohio streets. Commissioner Abner Perney had opposed the project on its first reading.

n Reporter David Clouston can be reached at 822-1403 or by e-mail at dclouston@salina.com.

Commissioners authorized the agreement with Chevron Energy Solutions of Overland Park at their weekly meeting.

The conservation improvement program is designated for the use of schools, state agencies, and county and city governments to replace inefficient windows, heating and air conditioning, lighting and other systems.

Chevron Energy Solutions is one of four energy service companies designated by the state to work with clients. The companies do audits to determine where energy savings can be realized, then do the engineering and design for the work, as well as acting as general contractors.

The cost of auditing nine city-owned buildings under the agreement with Chevron is $12,012.

Doing it on the cheap

"One of the advantages of this is, if we tried to contract with Chevron independent of the state program for the exact same review, it would probably be two or three times this cost," City Manager Jason Gage told commissioners.

If, after the audit, commissioners choose not to proceed with the recommended improvements, the city would pay Chevron the audit costs. If commissioners choose to move forward and have Chevron perform the work, the audit costs would be absorbed within the construction costs.

If the expected savings aren't generated, based on an annual review, Chevron would be required to pay the city the difference between the actual costs and what Chevron said the savings would be, Gage said.

The improvements would be paid for with financing through a lending institution at rates 3 percent to 5 percent lower than comparable commercial leases.

The nine buildings to be audited are the Salina Police Department, Memorial Hall, Salina Community Theatre, the Smoky Hill Museum, fire stations 1 and 2, the Salina-Saline County Health Department, the Municipal Golf Course clubhouse, and the Bicentennial Center.

The City-County Building wasn't included, because it's shared by multiple government agencies and it already has replaced windows and gone to a more efficient heating and cooling system, plus more energy efficient florescent bulbs, Gage said.

Such programs elsewhere in Kansas also have included water-saving equipment, roofs and even integration of alternative electricity methods, such as wind power.

As examples, Kansas State University implemented a $19 million campuswide energy efficiency project through the conservation improvement program. The Scott County School District recently implemented a nearly $1 million project through the program.

Commissioner Alan Jilka questioned Chevron representative John O'Herron at the meeting about the relationship between Chevron and the state's energy conservation program. O'Herron explained that his original company was acquired by the energy giant in 2003. The energy auditing business is separate from the oil side of the business, he said.

"We've been a pioneer in energy conservation services since 1974. That's all our group does; we have 300 employees doing energy conservation work," O'Herron said.

Other items approved Monday by the commission included:

n Final acceptance of zoning changes needed for commercial development at the northwest corner of the Ohio Street-Schilling Road intersection.

n Approved 5-0 an ordinance enabling a curb-cut entrance on Ohio Street as part of a proposed office and retail center to be built at the northeast corner of Cloud and Ohio streets. Commissioner Abner Perney had opposed the project on its first reading.

n Reporter David Clouston can be reached at 822-1403 or by e-mail at dclouston@salina.com.