Town of Cary
At a Glance
Industry
Government/Public Administration
Project Type
Commercial Energy Efficiency
Year
2011
Location
Cary, NC
Kealy Devoy and Zachary Tinkler worked together this summer as EDF Climate Corps fellows in the Town of Cary, North Carolina. Cary is a thriving community located near Raleigh, home to the Southeast regional office of EDF. Cary has experienced rapid population growth and wants to ensure sustainable development by cutting energy use and waste. Cary has secured several grants for sustainable projects from the US EPA and the Federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. One project is a 1.5 MW solar installation, expected to lease for $50,000 per year.
Devoy and Tinkler identified and performed assessments on the town’s highest energy intensive facilities, two of which turned out to be the Water Reclamation Facilities and the Cary-Apex Water Treatment Plant. The fellows developed a strategic energy plan for the town and helped review request for proposals on energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. The recommended next steps included hot water heater settings and insulation at fire stations, lighting upgrades and a facilities data tracking system.
If Devoy’s and Tinkler’s identified projects are implemented, the Town of Cary could save about $444,000 in annual energy costs, cut electricity use by over 8.5 million kWh, and reduce carbon emissions by 720 tons.