Washington County Committee Considers Solar Power For Detention Center
Last updated Monday, April 28, 2008 10:11 PM CDT in News
By Christopher Spencer
THE MORNING NEWS
FAYETTEVILLE -- Solar panels should adorn the top of the Washington County Detention Center, members of the county's energy committee said Monday.
Committee members recommended that $50,000 be set aside by the county's financial committee to pay for the installation. The panels will save the county 10 percent to 15 percent of the natural gas cost associated with heating water used in the jail's kitchen, laundry and administrative offices, said Deanna Christ of Sun City Solar Energy.
The project likely would pay for itself within three and a half years, estimated committee member Justice of the Peace Butch Pond, R-Round Mountain.
Sun City staff members were invited to the committee's meeting to talk about the technology and to give an idea of what such a system would cost and how much money it could save the county.
County officials will ask for bids from companies on the installation of 15 solar panels once the financial committee and the Quorum Court approve the money.
Ordering the required equipment and performing the installation could happen within a month once the money is set aside, said John Gerrard of Sun City.
The jail's detention area does not have enough space to put a solar system there, said Christ.
County Administrator John Gibson reminded committee members that the jail will need to be expanded in the coming years, and, that, at that time, space could be built for a solar heating system.
Gibson cautioned that there are stringent standards that govern things like the temperature of water used for inmates' showers and that a solar system would have to follow those standards.
"Jail standards are boss down there," he said.
"It occurs to me though that there are some ways we can stay within constitutional standards and still cut costs some," said Justice of the Peace Steve Zega, D-Fayetteville, the committee's chairman.
The energy committee is looking at several ways to lower the cost of county utilities by using more efficient methods.
The committee recommended that the Quorum Court find an energy consultant who can study the county's energy use in-depth by performing an audit of how county buildings use energy.
Zega said the county needs to develop a comprehensive energy-use policy.
The county should find a person on staff to give job duties similar to Fayetteville's sustainability coordinator, whose job with the city is partially focused on saving the city money through lowering energy use, committee members said.
Ron Wood, the county's building and grounds supervisor, said his office intends to start keeping monthly tallies of energy use.
FAST FACTS
County Costs
Members of the Washington County Energy Committee asked county employees to determine utility costs for the county's buildings in 2007. One of the committee's goals is to lower the county's utility costs.
Building '07 Utility Costs
New Courthouse $92,726
Public Defender's Office $6,425
Historic Courthouse $35,076
Old Armory Building $4,633
Emergency Operations $13,351
Cooperative Extension $11,264
County Health Department $41,711
Detention Center $439,742
Juvenile Detention Center $41,278
County Library $4,179
Environmental Affairs Office $549
Roads Department $44,628
Total $735,562
Source: Staff Report
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