Jewish Community Center Director of Operations Brian Tabler has announced that the Center is one of several non-profit facilities to receive a Department of Energy Efficiency (DOE) and Conservation Block Grant through Louisville Metro Government. Advanced Electrical Systems has been awarded the contract to implement changes in the facility. The work is expected to be completed within 120 days.
“Since we’re one of the larger recipient facilities,” Tabler commented, “the Department of Energy is very interested in seeing our results.” The work covered by the grant includes retrofitting or replacing fixtures, incandescent lamps and metal halide fixtures that are used in the gyms and racquetball courts. He expects the quality of the lighting throughout the building to improve while requiring far less energy.
Materials and labor are included in the grant, which is worth approximately $65,000. The JCC anticipates realizing significant savings on electricity. In addition to recouping labor, material and energy savings, the Center is enrolling in a rebate program with LG&E/KU Energy for the energy upgrades.
Tabler is excited about the potential impact of the grant and will keep everyone posted on the scheduling of the project. He anticipates work will commence on the project in about a month and will be completed in one week with minimal interruption to the Center’s day-to-day operations. Savings realized from the changes will be tracked, since the DOE requests copies of energy bills for the month before improvements are made and the month after they are implemented.
“It’s pretty simple,” Tabler says. “They come in and do the work and we get the savings. We are excited about the potential lighting and energy savings and hope our members will reap the benefits. We are grateful to Louisville Metro Government for investing in our building. With their help, we will change over 650 lights, which is the equivalent of two miles-length of bulbs.”