ComEd joins Cook to save $1M annually

Cook County and ComEd are teaming up on an energy-efficiency program aimed at saving the government more than $1 million a year.

“We hope this collaboration will enable us to better manage our energy consumption and to produce significant savings,” said President Toni Preckwinkle.

ComEd Chairman Frank Clark, a member of Preckwinkle's transition team when she took office late last year, estimated “a net savings of $850,000” in the county building alone in downtown Chicago. ComEd's is offering its help pro bono.

Preckwinkle said the county facilities management department also would try to achieve the nationally recognized Energy Star rating for efficiency at county buildings, including the Rolling Meadows courthouse and the records warehouse and domestic violence courthouse in Chicago.

All of the county's building managers also will be in involved in an energy-savings competition, dubbed “Wattage Wars,” that's estimated to cut energy use 4 percent overall and 10 percent at peak demand at an additional annual savings of $500,000.

Clark said that “most energy-efficient reductions are pretty straightforward,” saying that, for example, the installation of motion sensors to turn off lights would save money because the county has so many buildings.

While installing high-efficiency lighting wherever possible will cost money initially, it would most likely “pay for itself in about four years,” he said.

Facilities Management Director James D'Amico said the county spends $18 million a year on energy, including the Cook County Jail, which would not be included in the new reduction program.