Energy audits are set

Jay County will take a look at energy usage in two county-owned buildings to try to qualify for a 100 percent grant to upgrade heating systems.

Community developer Ami Huffman and Don Crawmer of Sertech approached the Jay County Commissioners Monday about the new grant opportunity, which could help to replace older heating systems with more efficient models.

"To apply we have to do an energy audit," said community developer Ami Huffman. "To see what the savings will be."

The audits of the Jay County Retirement Center and Jay County Annex/Health Department will show a detailed breakdown of all energy usage as well as account for insulation, windows and doors and other factors that could lead to heating or cooling loss and therefore energy waste.

If the state determines that the savings created through an upgraded system are great enough, they would fund 100 percent of the upgrade cost and would refund the money spent on the audit.

The retirement center, located on county road 200 North, and health department on West Arch Street were deemed the best candidates for the audit and grant programs. An audit will cost the county between $300 and $500 per building, Crawmer said.

Although the county could spend the money for audits and fail to get the grant, the commissioners agreed the data received from the audit would still be useful for any future upgrade considerations.

"It gives you the ability to make an educated decision," Crawmer said on whether to try for a grant or if an upgrade is necessary.

The commissioners also considered having an audit done on the county highway department garage, but Huffman said she's still waiting to hear back on a grant application the county sent in to try to get 50 percent of the cost for a solar heating system.

Huffman said the first round of grant awards were announced and that the highway garage project was not selected, but has not been eliminated. She said she thinks that project may be next on the list in case one of the other grant winners decide to decline the award.

The block grants Huffman and Crawmer presented Monday only cover traditional systems, whereas the county is planning to upgrade the highway department with high efficiency solar heaters.

Huffman and the commissioners agreed that they could wait for results on the 50 percent solar grant before deciding on whether to audit energy use at the highway garage and make a run at the 100 percent block grant.

The commissioners told Crawmer to go ahead and have the audits done in preparation. The audits will be done by Fort Recovery Construction and Equipment.

In other business Monday, the commissioners:

•Made Jay County Sheriff Ray Newton purchasing agent to buy three in-car radios at cost of $6,547.83.

•Approved a contract for a new Kenworth dump truck from Selking International at a cost of $85,891.

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