A recent report by Luci Scott from The Republic highlights how the city of Mesa has spent over $4 million in federal stimulus funds on energy efficiency projects and how it is enjoying a major return on investment. The programs are returning about $400,000 in energy costs per year, despite the fact that the $4 million spent is just a fraction of the nearly $30 billion spent in other states last year, or the $840 billion earmarked since 2009. Details of the stimulus spending can be viewed at www.recovery.gov.
The project focused on energy-efficient products and renewable energy programs. Funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the following upgrades were made in the city of Mesa:
- the Transportation Department installed 2,500 LED street lamps saving over than 500,000 kilowatts annually, or about 40% of lighting costs
- Mesa installed its first solar system at the Central Arizona Project plant, generating 150,000 kilowatts of clean energy
- Mesa’s fleet-services parking lot switched to 65 dim-controlled 1,000-watt lamps, which cuts energy-usage by 50%
- “Cool roof” coating was applied to 12 city buildings to reduce cooling costs
Mesa also adopted the International Energy Conservation Code, which sets standards for cost savings, usage reductions, natural resource conservation and carbon footprints. It also provides recommendations on improving high-cost systems like HVAC.
These investments returned over $400,000 in savings in 2012 alone, which promises to continue over the long life of these energy-saving programs. Mesa is a community that prides itself at being on the cutting edge of such efforts and servicing its residents the highest-quality lifestyle possible. These cuts in civic costs will benefit Mesa citizens via tax savings. It’s why people love living here and the real estate market remains vibrant.
If these are the kind of civic projects that appeal to you, then Mesa just might be the place to buy your next home. To learn about some of the properties for sale in Mesa, all you have to do is drop me a line.
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