A high-profile energy project is underway at the Schuylkill County courthouse that officials said should save taxpayers money.
The temperature outside hovered around 80 degrees Monday but workers are thinking of cold temperatures as they work in the basement of the courthouse.
They are installing a new furnace that can run on coal or natural gas.
"Our boilers were old. They were 40 years old. They needed to be replaced so why not with more energy efficient items," said county engineer Lisa Mayall.
"The old boilers that were in here they didn't have any dust collection system on them and the new boilers will have a dust collector that will scrub the air before it goes out into the atmosphere," said foreman Rick Christ.
The new system has a price tag of more than $1 million but officials predict the system will eventually pay for itself because of its ability to use two different kinds of fuel.
"It also allows them to play the market, if you want to say that, at the cheapest price, to buy at the best times and gives customers versatility in their heating," Foreman explained.
County officials said they're trying to save electricity too. They've installed energy-efficient lighting in several county-owned buildings.
"Those three facilities we're looking at our energy savings and we're between seven and nine percent," Mayall added.
With electric bills dropping county officials hope the boiler project will do the same and save taxpayers money.
The temperature outside hovered around 80 degrees Monday but workers are thinking of cold temperatures as they work in the basement of the courthouse.
They are installing a new furnace that can run on coal or natural gas.
"Our boilers were old. They were 40 years old. They needed to be replaced so why not with more energy efficient items," said county engineer Lisa Mayall.
"The old boilers that were in here they didn't have any dust collection system on them and the new boilers will have a dust collector that will scrub the air before it goes out into the atmosphere," said foreman Rick Christ.
The new system has a price tag of more than $1 million but officials predict the system will eventually pay for itself because of its ability to use two different kinds of fuel.
"It also allows them to play the market, if you want to say that, at the cheapest price, to buy at the best times and gives customers versatility in their heating," Foreman explained.
County officials said they're trying to save electricity too. They've installed energy-efficient lighting in several county-owned buildings.
"Those three facilities we're looking at our energy savings and we're between seven and nine percent," Mayall added.
With electric bills dropping county officials hope the boiler project will do the same and save taxpayers money.
