From solar panels on a fire station to new lights on city ball fields, the leadership team heading Lawrence’s Take Charge Challenge has been toying with how to best spend a $100,000 prize.
It should be clear that no one has won the prize yet. But if Lawrence does beat Manhattan in the competition, the local team wants to make sure they pick a project that people will see and support.
Lawrence only recently gained the lead over Manhattan in the competition, sponsored by the Kansas Energy Office, that determines which city can save the most energy. The winner, which will be decided at the end of September, receives $100,000 to spend on a community project that is energy efficient or uses renewable energy.
On Tuesday, the leadership team considered these possibilities:
A couple Prairie Park Nature Center summer day camp participants respond to a loud shriek courtesy of Tino, the center's scarlet macaw. by Mike Yoder
A solar thermal hot water heater for Prairie Park Nature Center. The $8,000 project could pay for itself in about 15 years.
The Lawrence-Douglas County Fire Station No. 5, 19th Street and Stewart Avenue by Mike Yoder
Solar panels at Fire Station No. 5, 1911 Stewart Ave. With two south-facing roof lines and next to one of the busiest intersections in Lawrence, a project could showcase renewable energy technology.
A $66,000 solar panel project would cover about 2 percent of the building’s energy usage and a $150,000 project would cover about 5 percent of the city’s energy usage. Either way, the project’s cost would be recouped over 16 to 20 years.
Robert Coffman, Lawrence, owner/operator of Airtight Home Energy Audits, performs an energy audit on a home in southwest Lawrence, using a blower door to de-pressurize the house and detect leaks. An energy competition will be held between cities like Lawrence and Manhattan early next year. by Mike Yoder
While having an energy audit done doesn’t directly save energy, audits give clear direction on ways buildings can become more energy efficient. The team proposed spending some of the money on energy audits. Audits can range from several hundred to several thousand dollars.
A view from the bleachers of Holcom Gold field during a game between the Storm and the River Dogs in the Houk League. The Storm won the game 11-10. by Ira J. Spitzer
The lights shining above Holcom and Hobbs fields have been there for 40 years. If they were replaced with new technology, the number of bulbs needed could be cut almost in half. Outfitting just one field would cost more than the prize money, so the city would have to agree to help shoulder the cost (which could be around $130,000 per field).
Fewer light bulbs would be needed, and the city would have more control over when they can be turned on. However, because the project includes the massive cost of replacing poles and other lighting fixtures, the project wouldn’t actually save the city money over the long run.
Depending on the projects picked, more than one could be funded. Let us know how you think the prize money should be spent, by voting in our poll.
Tagged: Energy savings, Take Charge Challenge, prize
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