Hospital’s Electrical Upgrades Save Money, Conserve Power, Support Environment

NEW MILFORD — New Milford Hospital has taken a major step forward in conservation by embarking on an energy efficient lighting retrofit — thanks to a generous incentive program offered by Connecticut Light and Power (CL&P) and Alliance Energy Solutions, an approved energy services company based in Oxford. The $196,451 project will allow the hospital to upgrade its electrical technology and better monitor its consumption of electricity with a $75,580 investment over the next two years.

The remaining $117,870 will be paid through the Connecticut Energy Efficiency Fund regulated by the Connecticut Department of Public Utility Control (DPUC), which provides incentives for businesses and other organizations to conserve electricity and use other energy sources, such as wind and solar power. DPUC’s mission is to ensure that safe, reliable, modern, and fairly priced utility services are available throughout the state.

Dennis Primavera, vice president for finance and facilities at the hospital, called the program a “win-win opportunity for the hospital and community. We have made a commitment to be a good neighbor and provide safe, modern facilities for our patients and visitors. With CL&P and Alliance Energy helping to fund 60 percent of the effort, we can realize the conservation potential affordably and within a short period of time.”

Greg Hudson of Alliance Energy said the project includes lighting upgrades, the installation of occupancy sensors and a national demand meter that will provide real-time information about the hospital’s energy consumption to maximize conservation and cost reduction efforts over time.

According to CL&P’s energy assessment, New Milford Hospital will save about $47,000 or 327,000 kilowatt hours annually, with a measure lifetime environmental impact that compares to:

*More than 2.5 million pounds of coal not burned

*324,123 gallons of heating oil not burned

*Enough electricity for 56 households annually

Additionally, the emissions avoided from volatile compounds equates to:

*9,994 pounds of sulfur oxides

*2,655 pounds of nitrogen oxide

*More than 2700 tons of carbon dioxide