PHOTO: On Monday night, the Rainsville City Council met with representatives with Every Watt Matters, a company dedicated to saving energy. (Tyler Pruett | Southern Torch)
By Tyler Pruett, Managing Editor
RAINSVILLE, Ala. — On Monday, the Rainsville City Council held an executive session to hear from a representative from Every Watt Matters, a company dedicated to helping governments and businesses save money on their energy bill. George Blackstone, Chairman/CEO of Every Watt Matters, made the trip to Rainsville to discuss services that his company offers. The company had already conducted an audit of the city to determine energy consumption.
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According to their website, Every Watt Matters, "provides lighting energy use analysis and implements turn-key upgrades for commercial, industrial and government customers."
"Our energy efficiency services include lighting energy analysis, value-engineered designs, managed installations, utility and government incentive procurement." The company is based in Seattle, Washington.
A local representative for the company, Barry Weisner of Rainsville, introduced Mr. Blackstone.
"We're very passionate about energy efficiency," said Blackstone.
According the Blackstone, the savings will be derived from installing cost efficient LED bulbs and a Harmonic Current Reduction Module. The new bulbs use much less electricity than the standard fluorescent bulbs. The reduction modules will, according to Blackstone, help the electrical current flow more efficiently.
While the changes will save on the city's utility bills, the service isn't free. The total costs to the city to install the system is estimated at $142,391.00. According to Blackstone, "the project will pay for itself in savings in 2.8 years through the energy and maintenance savings."
The reasoning is simple on the surface; the payment for the project will be about $3300 a month, but the city will be saving $4300 a month, in combined energy savings and less maintenance for the new bulbs.
"Your currently using just under 500,000 kilowatt hours, afterwards it drops to about 125,000," explained Blackstone.
And if the city doesn't have the funds available for the installation, Every Watt Matters has other options,"If you don't have the cash, we have third party financing available, municipal financing,"
While Blackstone was able to provide estimates of the savings, the true savings will be revealed after the installation is complete and the city receives it's electric bill.
"It's not until we do the installation and get the bill after it's done that you'll be able to see the initial savings,"
Councilman Bejan Taheri asked, "I have a question for Mrs. Nikki (city attorney). Since this going to be on Are we going to get in trouble as far as the law if we don't let someone else come in and give their bids."
"I think we have to look at that. I don't know the answer to that right now, but we need to look at that," said City Attorney, Nikki Scott.
Weisner responded, "The payment on this is going to be under $50,0000, so that's one thing. Another thing, no one else is going to have this filter that our company has. Our company is the only that has this filter."
"We may have to post it, but if no one else can match the product that he has," said Councilman Brandon Freeman.
"We'll have to go back and look at what we're doing. We'll cover our bases on that," said Lingerfelt.
"We'll possibly have something together on that by the next council meeting."
