An Ameren Missouri representative gave the city of Brentwood a big check at the Nov. 16 board of aldermen meeting as part of an Ameren program to pay incentives to municipalities to use energy efficient technology.
Page Selby, business and community relations with Ameren Missouri, gave the city a check for $47,209.63 for energy saved with the new lighting and HVAC systems, and the new refrigeration system for the ice rink at the recreation center.
Ben Von Harz, Brentwood public works project manager, said the difference between the 2014 Sept. – Oct. bill and the 2015 bill for the same period at the recreation center showed a 37.5 percent reduction in energy used.
Von Harz said the new energy technology includes:
- LED lighting throughout the building – only two light bulbs are not LED in the building now.
- Many of the rooms have occupancy sensors – light turns on when someone walks in.
- Each room has its own HVAC system so the rooms can be controlled independently. Previously two systems covered the whole building.
- The rink refrigeration system went from an R-22 system to indirect ammonia — more efficient and cheaper.
- Heat reclamation water tank — the ammonia system creates heat and the heated water is used in the Zamboni and to melt the snow from the Zamboni.
Selby said the incentive program will be ending at the end of this year, so Brentwood got in at the end.
“You may have heard that our latest proposal for energy efficient programs for next year was turned down but we are working with the public service commission to come up with some new programs, and we’re optimistic,” Selby said.
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She said if anyone is thinking of getting rid of an old refrigerator now is the time to do it. Ameren will pay $50 to haul it off. And discounts for energy efficient light bulbs at places like Home Depot and Sam’s Club will also be going away at the end of the year.