El Paso's energy-saving measures include solar panels on library roof

Oct. 22--City officials and a federal lawmaker climbed atop the roof of the El Paso Main Library in the Downtown on Friday morning to take in more than just sunshine.

U.S. Rep. Silvestre Reyes, D-Texas, Mayor John Cook and city Sustainability Manager Marty Howell gathered to talk about the city's federally funded, energy-saving projects, which include recently installed solar panels on the roof of the Downtown library, 501 N. Oregon.

The city received $5.8 million from the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant program, funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, to spend on projects that reduce electricity consumption at city buildings.

The local Border Solar installed the panels for $92,000, and the city estimates the system will provide about 3 percent of the power used at the building.

The library's new, flat roof and typical high energy use made it a perfect candidate for the solar panels, Howell said.

"We use a lot of energy in this building," he said. "In our opinion, the best place to use solar is where you have a high bill. If you can knock down some of that peak in the summer, then you can knock down some of your peak demand charges."

A kiosk at the first floor of City Hall will feature a graphic that charts energy savings at the library in real time, Howell said.

Energy conservation retrofits financed by stimulus money will take place at 44 city buildings, including fire stations, Department of Public Health buildings and the Municipal

Service Center, Cook said.

City officials expect the projects to be finished by May.

In addition to solar panels, which will also be installed at the Animal Services shelter, workers will install energy-efficient lights and more efficient heating, ventilating and air conditioning systems.

Reduced greenhouse gas emissions from the projects will equal the removal of 177 cars on the roads, according to the city.

Upgrades at the city buildings will save at least $170,000 a year in utility costs, decreasing the city's energy use by 13 percent, Cook said.

In the sun-drenched El Paso region, Reyes said, solar and energy-efficiency projects are a no-brainer. "The Recovery and Reinvestment Act has been a very criticized piece of legislation, but I will put El Paso up against anyone with the investment and ability to move projects forward," he said.

"Some of us had to work to sell these programs, but in the final analysis, they were made part of the act, and now we're really benefitting from the fruits of those investments."

Hayley Kappes may be reached at 546-6168; hkappes@elpasotimes.com.

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