GREENFIELD, MA (FRANKLIN COUNTY NOW) — At Tuesday’s Fire Station Building Committee meeting, Greenfield Energy and Sustainability Director, Carole Collins, shared concerns around the energy usage at the new station, which Collins said is approximately 250% more than what was anticipated.
Collins also noted that the building was built to energy efficient specifications that made the project eligible for an approximately $78,000 grant, indicating the building should be more energy efficient than what it is presenting.
The Committee identified three possible causes for the unexpected jump in electricity: an error in the energy audit that predicted usage before the building was built, a potential issue with the building itself, or current occupancy operations.
Fire Chief Robert Strahan said if the issue is identified as relating to the current occupancy, the fire department will make the appropriate changes.
The Committee is looking into options for a professional review of the building’s energy usage and the audit that formed the original estimation.