NEW BOSTON, Texas-Seeking to save money through improved energy efficiency, Bowie County Commissioners agreed Monday to hire a Carrollton, Texas-based company to conduct an energy efficiency study on at least three county owned buildings.
Commissioners agreed during their second and final regular meeting this month to hire Trane, an energy services and solutions company, to conduct a detailed energy efficiency study, which will cost slightly more then $25,000. The energy audit will be conducted on the county's courthouse, its office building at 601 Main St. in Texarkana, Texas, and its women's center in the 100 block of Plaza West Drive.
During the meeting, Leland Dixon, an account manager with Trane, told commissioners that his firm finished a preliminary energy efficiency study on the three buildings and is now ready to conduct the detailed study.
Dixon said the energy audit will involve tracking air flow throughout the courthouse as well as humidity collecting down stairs during different seasons.
"This will allow us to fine the upgrades in new energy equipment we will need to install," he said. "We never compromise comfort for money savings - there will be at least the same level of comfort maintained for employees, which they have now or there may even be a better level."
Once improvements are discovered, measured and implemented, energy efficiency measures could save the county $750,000 annually. The county could then pay Trane with money generated by energy cost savings, over a 10-year period - with $75,000 installments paid to the firm, per year.
"Everything we have in the county now is basically ancient, so I feel these improvements are something we can use," said Precinct 4 Commissioner Mike Carter.
Following some additional discussion, commissioners agreed to finance the study.
Besides energy efficiency considerations, commissioners also agreed to advertise for bids from roofing firms seeking to replace the courthouse's 30-year old roof - which is now leaking rain water inside the courthouse's upstairs area.
In other business, commissioners agreed to study bids submitted by two construction firms seeking to repair Plantation Road and Bent Tree Road inside County's Precinct 2 Road Department.
