Agencies, state rep honored for energy cuts

The first Excellence in Energy Efficiency Awards were presented Wednesday by Governor Lynch to two state agencies and one state representative.

Awards were presented to the Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Turnpikes, the Christa McAuliffe Planetarium and Rep. Suzanne Harvey of Nashua during the annual meeting of state agency energy coordinators and teams.

The Bureau of Turnpikes was cited for cutting energy use in toll facilities by over 35 percent through the installation of energy-efficient boilers and lighting improvements. The planetarium was recognized for reducing energy use by 34 percent through lighting upgrades and the replacement of its theater projection system with an improved system that uses less energy. Harvey was recognized for initiating the change-out of inefficient lighting at the State House to energy-efficient bulbs.

The governor praised the winners “for their efforts to make state government more energy-efficient,” adding that reducing energy use “will help reduce the costs of state government and reduce the pollution that threatens the health of our citizens and the health of our environment.”

In 2005, Lynch issued an executive order directing all state agencies to lead by example by reducing their energy use, buying energy-efficient appliances, purchasing more energy-energy vehicles, and by exceeding the state energy code by 20 percent when building or renovating facilities. – JEFF FEINGOLD