Charleston spends to save energy

Charleston plans to add $3.2 million to a contract with Johnson Controls, the company running a multi-year project to upgrade city facilities with energy-efficient improvements.

The money will pay for the renovation of a historic city-owned building at 116 Meeting St., which was a fire station in the days when fire apparatus was pulled by horses.

The building now houses the Department of Budget, Finance and Revenue Collections.

"The 116 Meeting St. renovation does not pay for itself, but the three (contract) phases together will come close," said Steve Bedard, the city's chief financial officer.

The city previously awarded Johnson Controls a $3.9 million contract in 2001, and a nearly $10 million contract in 2007. The additional $3.2 million contract has received preliminary approval from City Council and awaits a final vote in September.

The previous contracts are expected to cut the city's energy use at the facilities involved by 16 percent, reducing the city's carbon dioxide emissions by an estimated 8,417 tons a year. Along with the latest contract, Johnson Controls estimates the improvements will have an impact equivalent to taking 5,246 cars off the road.

Read more in tomorrow's editions of The Post and Courier.