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HOME > NEWS Saco Energy Initiative The Governor's Carbon Challenge" - a Maine voluntary carbon emission reduction program: www.maine.gov/dep/oc/carbon.htm on November 16, 2005. As part of our commitment, on August 21, 2006, Mayor Johnston signed on in support for the US Mayors Climate Protection Agreement, which calls for action to reduce global warming pollution by urging federal and state governments to enact policies and programs to meet or beat the target of reducing global warming pollution levels to 7 percent below the 1990 levels by 2012, including efforts to: reduce the United States' dependence on fossil fuels and accelerate the development of clean, economical energy resources and fuel-efficient technologies such as conservation, methane recovery for energy generation, waste to energy, wind and solar energy, fuel cells, efficient motor vehicles, and biofuels. By signing the Climate Protection Agreement, Saco is listed as one of the "Cool Cities Across America". To find out how you can get involved in the cool cities campaign in our city, go to: www.coolcities.us So, What are we doing? Members of the Committee have attended courses and seminars to better understand how to promote energy conservation so that they may educate as many others as possible. As a result of the plethora of information the committee gathered and the desire to make a difference, the City Council approved $300,000.00 to invest into citywide energy improvements. The committee started by implementing the proposal from Sebago Energy to replace city wide departmental light bulbs with CFL's (compact fluorescent lights) and more efficient fluorescent lights. This project alone is estimated to save the city over $11,000.00 annually with a four-year pay back period. Another quick fix was the replacement of sixteen of the city's twenty-two departmental refrigerators with significantly more efficient ones - totaling a savings of $2,200.00 annually with a 3-year payback. The City also converted all traffic lights in the city from bulbs to light emitting diodes (LED). Other projects that are currently in the works are the replacement of all department computer CRT's (cathode ray tubes) with new flat screens, which consume 90% less energy. Just these three projects will save the city nearly 140,000 KWH per year. On the planning board for the Committee are projects to build an air-lock vestibule at city hall to prevent heat loss, and various improvements to replace doors, windows, and inefficient structural designs at the community center. Renewable energy technology is being implemented at the site of the city's largest energy consumer, the wastewater treatment plant. Upgrades in the Bio-solids dewatering equipment at the Wastewater Treatment Plant has demonstrated first hand how technology can help improve the workplace and at the same time save rate payer dollars. Starting with a Fournier Rotary Press in 2003 and a FKC Rotary Screen Thickener in 2006 the following observations have been made:
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Services • Get a form • Pay city bills • Register your car • Register your snowmobile • Get a fishing license • Pay traffic violations • Search marriage/death archives Information • Find your ward • Telephone numbers • More information  GIS MAPPING You can now research property lots through the city's Geographic Information System (GIS) maps. Just follow this link. Note: This will take you off the City of Saco website. |
