Small Town Efforts to Go Green

Recently the City of Newberry was awarded a $128,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Energy's Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program. In an effort to Go Green, the City of Newberry began projects in which energy conservation was the main focus through the use of this grant.

On Monday, January 23, 2011 the City of Newberry hosted a "Green Celebration" to reveal its efforts of going green. The Easton-Newberry Sports Complex showcased its new solar photovoltaic system (solar panels) which have been installed on the building's rooftop. This energy conservation project is one of five projects that the City of Newberry will be implementing.

During the "Green Celebration" public workshops were held by Solar Source (the selected solar panel installation company) to educate the public about solar power and the new solar system at the Easton-Newberry Sports Complex. The public was able to learn hands on via Solar Source's mobile solar trailer, just how a solar panel system works along with their benefits. There are also monitors at Newberry City Hall and at the sports complex that show the system's real-time production of solar energy and cost savings.

While the system will only provide about 5% of the sports complex's power, it will save the City of Newberry money and eliminate some of the city's carbon footprint.

The City of Newberry will also be implementing a pilot project through the use of the energy grant, where they will be retrofitting street lighting from high-pressure sodium or metal halide lights to LED lights. This project will assist the city in determining how much energy can be saved by making the switch to an all LED light system.

In addition to energy-saving projects, the grant will also allow for an outreach program to be designed and implemented in order to provide education to the public about energy conservation and alternatives.