Clark County awarded $2.72 million for energy conservation efforts

Vancouver, WA – Clark County home- and business-owners could receive free energy audits, heating duct inspections and incentives for energy conservation work under a $2.29 million federal grant Clark County received late last month.

The grant from the U.S. Department of Energy is one of two energy-related awards the county received recently. It will improve energy efficiency and conservation in the community and create jobs to boost the local economy. The money comes from the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

About half of the two-year grant will go for energy audits and heating duct inspections in homes and businesses. Eligible property owners who schedule an appointment will receive conservation tips, referrals to area heating and cooling contractors able to seal ducts, and a coupon for a building permit and inspection. Details about how to sign up for the program will be announced early in 2010.

The grant also will pay for: “smart” computer power strips in the county’s Information Services Department; LED bulbs for county traffic signals; a new heating, ventilation and air conditioning system at Washington State University’s Clark County Extension Research Station at 1919 N.E. 78th St.; biomass power at county facilities; and, energy improvements for moderate-income families and small businesses in the Hazel Dell area.

Also, the county this week received the last portion of a $435,000 incentive payment from Clark Public Utilities. It will help pay for nearly $7.78 million in energy improvements made to county buildings this year. The incentive money, which was about $79,000 more than originally estimated, recognizes the county’s contribution to keeping overall energy consumption down.

The money will help pay for solar panels, solar water heaters, software for heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems, and other improvements.


“In this austere time, it is great to not only save energy but also to see a return on our investments,” said Mark McCauley, General Services director.