Beacon High gets $62,000 energy bill grant

By Maeleeke J. Lavan
Poughkeepsie Journal

BEACON -- The new Beacon High School hasn't opened and already it is paying off for the district.

The district will receive an energy conservation grant of more than $62,000 to help pay the gas and electric bill at the new high school.

The grant comes from the New York state Energy Research and Development Authority for the various energy-saving appliances and fixtures included in the $30.4 million high school. Construction recently was completed and the building is scheduled to open this fall.

''It saves a little up front and a lot in the long run,'' Superintendent Vito DiCesare said of the new energy-saving equipment. ''Ultimately it all helps the taxpayers.''

The energy-saving equipment includes high-efficiency florescent lighting and multiple-speed motors.

Thomas Collins, director of communications for NYSERDA, called Beacon's project a ''good investment.''

''When we looked at the design, their interests matched up very well with measures we're pursuing,'' Collins said.

Expected savings

The district presented NYSERDA with building blueprints and drawings detailing what they planned to install and how much money they expected to save.

After the building was completed, blueprints and equipment were inspected and it was determined the district qualified for the grant.

''One of the big things we look at is payback time,'' Collins said referring to the amount of time it takes for the initial equipment investment to make its way back into the district.

Beacon's equipment will pay for itself in about 2.7 years, Collins said, and will save the district $7,100 a year in energy costs.

Aside from saving money, officials said saving energy and the environment are definite pluses.

''For every bit of electricity we don't use that's less fossil fuels to burn,'' Collins said.