This is an excerpt from EERE Network News, a weekly electronic newsletter.

July 10, 2013

Ormond Beach Triples Energy Cost Savings Projections

Known for its white beaches and blue skies, the city of Ormond Beach, Florida, recently became known for a new color—green. With the help of the Energy Department’s Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Program, the city is saving energy and encouraging its residents to do the same through an environmental education program.

To help the city achieve its goal of cutting energy usage, reducing the overall cost of government through investments in technology and encouraging behavioral changes through education, Ormond Beach officials developed an energy efficiency and conservation strategy. As part of the efficiency strategy, the city used almost $167,000 in EECBG funds to make energy efficiency upgrades at 16 city-owned buildings. The city installed 29 programmable thermostats, added 100 motion sensors for lighting control, and replaced more than 4,100 fluorescent bulbs and 1,200 lighting fixtures.

The energy efficiency upgrades helped the city save 266,340 kilowatt hours of electricity annually—or the average yearly electricity consumption of about 23 U.S. homes. The city originally estimated energy savings at $15,800 per year, but once the projects were complete, the actual energy cost savings almost tripled to $45,637 per year. That’s a payback period of little more than three and a half years. For the complete story, see the Energy Blog.