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PARK CITY, Utah (AP) -- Park City leaders are hoping an energy-efficiency audit on 24 municipal buildings will help them save a bundle on utility costs.
The audit is part of a comprehensive set of environmental goals adopted earlier this year, including preservation of open space, clean air and water, transportation strategies and carbon-footprint reduction.
The audit will look at efficiencies for more than 500,000 square feet of city-owned and operated facilities.
The council is expected to finalize a contract with Milwaukee, Wis.-based Johnson Controls, Inc., next week. The $41,825 contract will include inspections of heating and cooling systems as well as lighting and plumbing.
The average audit, followed by implementation of efficiency recommendations, can result in a 15 to 25 percent savings in utility costs, company spokesman Jared Schoch said.
Under the audit contract, upgrades to city buildings would be prioritized for a return on investment, carbon impact and operational efficiency.
The council has yet to budget for any energy-efficiency upgrades to buildings, Mayor Dana Williams said. "We'll see what our options are before we determine how much money we'll spend," he said.
Park City has signed the U.S. Mayors Climate Action Agreement that requires compliance with the Kyoto Protocol. The city has also created a Department of Sustainability which coordinates environmental analysis.
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Information from: The Salt Lake Tribune
(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)