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Three Village Blog
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Solar Panels (cont.)
September 13, 2008 | 09:59 AM
Here's more on the Newsday article on Smithtown's solar panels and energy initiative.
In addition to the solar panels, other energy-saving measures are described: "...changing to (sic!) incandescent bulbs and adding motion detectors, replacement of windows and weather sealing, computer software to power down electronics not in use, and sensors in soda vending machines. Two new boilers will be installed at the Nesaquake Middle School."
The whole project, including the solar panels is said to cost $6 million, and the school superintendent is quoted as saying "savings from these initiatives could be approximately $140,000 a year."
Six million dollars to save $140,000 a year? The payback period for that is almost 43 years, not counting the interest lost on the $6 million. ($6 million in a 3% bank account would pay $180,000 a year.)
It sounds like most of this "energy conservation project" is just maintenance. After all, you do have to replace furnaces, windows, caulking, etc. once in a while.
Most impressive were those "sensors" in the soda machines. I'm sure they will save a heap.
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Three Village Blog
