Page 13 - Sept-Oct 2019 Vol37 No3

ROCKWOOD By Lisa Hood Skinner

Energy Savings Program Lights Up City

Rockwood Savings Light Up the Night Better lighting both inside and outside buildings all over town. • More
The historic city of Rockwood, comfortable temperatures within municipal buildings due to new roofs and
new HVAC units…creating work spaces more pleasing to both city workers
established circa 1868, has received
modern lighting and infrastructure and their customers. • No new taxes to pay for it all.
upgrades, circa now.
The council room was renovated while new lighting was installed. The lighting has changed the mood of
And the results have lit up the town. employees and visitors throughout city buildings. Pictured above (L-R) are Councilmen Jason Jolly, Bobby
Town officials said the citywide energy Anderson, Harold Holloway, Mayor Mike Miller, Councilmen Mike Fuller, Shane Trew and Steven Bryant.
savings and resulting debt reduction
allowed Rockwood to stay within the buildings received ceiling/grid replacement savings it produces every day.”
same debt structure…and without a and weatherization, where needed. Project Success Used as Best Practice
property tax increase.
Mayor Mike “Brillo” Miller said Rockwood City officials were invited
In early 2018, Rockwood, population of Rockwood also saved money by to the Tennessee Municipal League
5,434, entered into a $3.2 million Energy negotiating a contract giving the city a Conference in Memphis earlier this year
Performance Contract with Trane US warranty on labor and material on the to set up a booth and discuss the project’s
for conversion of 880 streetlights to LED LED lights. success. Rockwood was one of only eight
lights, and for critical improvements and cities to make a presentation at the event.
upgrades in municipal buildings. In all, Becky Ruppe, Rockwood City
the 2018-2019 fiscal year savings were Administrator, called the energy saving In 2018, the City of Rockwood
$132,000, which was reserved toward debt measures “transformational. Rockwood’s celebrated its 150th year. This year, it’s
service. Plus, the savings and retired debt 2018 average monthly utility bill for celebrating even more through the success
allowed the city to borrow an additional streetlights was $13,195. This May’s utility of the municipal improvement project…a
$3 million for other capital projects and bill for those same streetlights…now with reduced carbon footprint, enhanced
remain within the same debt structure. LEDs…was $1,047.28. That’s an estimated quality of life for its residents and improved
Case in Point: Streetlights annual savings of $145,000,” she said. visibility of the city as a whole…within the
city confines, and also outwardly among
Before the streetlight conversions “This project proactively addresses high other municipalities as a shining example
began in 2018, the city’s average monthly energy costs and aging infrastructure of best practices. Or as Ruppe put it,
streetlight utility bill was $13,000. Once without burdening city taxpayers with Rockwood “is bringing sustainability to
streetlight installation began, savings were higher taxes,” Ruppe said. “It truly has Small Town America.”
immediate. While the lights were being been a great infrastructure improvement
installed in the weeks that followed, the program… funded in part by the utility
monthly bill decreased dramatically. By
June 2018, the monthly bill was decreased
by more than $12,000…to a monthly bill
around $1,000.

The program’s advantages didn’t stop
there. Part of the project also involved the
city’s utilization of a $14,274 Tennessee
Department of Environment and
Conservation (TDEC) grant for improved
lighting in the city library and community
center, and for lighting and heating and
air in the city garage.
HVAC Units, Replacement Roofs,
Weatherization

Additionally, workers converted
all interior lights in every municipal
building to LED. They installed new
energy-efficient HVAC units, featuring
programmable thermostats and
automation, replacing older equipment in
most buildings.

New replacement roofs now grace city
hall, the city library, community center, fire
department and police buildings. Many

View online at tnpublicworks.com 13