City Energy Efficiency

Brief Outline of the Project

In 2009 former City Councilwoman Martha Norbeck worked with Alliant Energy to develop a comprehensive Energy Efficiency Project to reduce energy use in all city-owned buildings by 30-40%. Grant funding was secured from the Iowa Office of Energy Independence for 1/3 of the $485,000 budget, and Alliant Energy has offered an additional $100,000 in rebate incentives. Most of the upgrades are simple improvements in lighting, insulation, and Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems with 5-7 year payback periods that can easily be replicated in private homes and offices.

Why do it and what motivates you?

As the new chairman of the Environmental & Franchise Utilities Committee on the City Council it’s my responsibility to see this project through to completion. One of the main reasons I chose to be on the City Council was to help implement the Go-Green Plan, so this project is the first of many sustainability initiatives that I will be working on in my role in city government.

Your vision, for your project AND for Fairfield as a sustainable community:

My hope is that the simple upgrades we make in all eight publically owned buildings, and the subsequent financial savings that will be quickly realized, will inspire private businesses and home-owners to initiate similar upgrades. Alliant Energy offers many cash rebates for replacing old furnaces and water-heaters, adding insulation, etc. that our entire community can take advantage of to become more energy efficient (and save a lot of money). This is an example of the government serving as a role-model for the private sector.

Your philosophy of sustainability:

I believe that lasting sustainability will be achieved by making it as easy as possible for people to reduce their overall environmental impact. Efficiency that is built into systems (energy, food, transportation) has a much greater impact than expecting people to make good choices when the “bad” choice is so much easier. Changing the way we do things will take time, yet I firmly believe that in the near future efficiency/sustainability will be the norm all over the world.

The Big Picture (how your project fits into the larger Sustainability Project):

This project will significantly lower energy use and thus reduce the carbon footprint of the city government while also serving as an example of how easy it is for private companies and citizens to do the same. The annual savings for the City are expected to be about $90,000/year, and so this will likely become a revolving fund for further energy saving/sustainability projects.

One thought for the community and City of Fairfield:

Whether you want to reduce your carbon footprint or simply save yourself some money, increasing energy efficiency is an easy way to do both.

How others can get involved:

Replace light-bulbs with more efficient options, add insulation to your attic, replace that old dinosaur furnace, get an energy audit for your home or office to discover even more ways to save energy – and money!