Today, the Ameren Illinois Act On Energy® initiative awarded energy efficiency incentives totaling nearly $230,000 to Gateway Regional Medical Center for a major cooling system upgrade and improvement project that will provide for greater patient comfort.
The $1.4-million energy efficiency project involved the replacement of the medical center’s two existing 30-plus-year-old chillers with state-of-the-art high efficiency chillers. In addition, the existing primary and secondary chilled water pumping system was replaced with a state-of-the-art primary-variable pumping system. The Murphy Company provided the engineering design, project implementation and coordination with Act On Energy throughout the project.
“Gateway Regional Medical Center is pleased to have partnered with Ameren Illinois and Murphy Company on our recent chiller replacement project. The total cost was $1.4 million,” said Ron Leazer, chief financial officer of Gateway Regional Medical Center.
“The incentive payment from the Ameren Illinois Act On Energy program along with the annual energy savings reduced the payback period 3 years. Without this incentive, the project may not have been feasible. Not only are we improving the comfort of our patients with more efficient and reliable cooling, we are doing the right thing by reducing our carbon footprint and being good stewards of the available energy.”
“Gateway Regional Medical Center is to be congratulated for their creativity in addressing energy efficiency,” said Stan Ogden, Ameren Illinois vice president of Customer Service & Public Relations. “Not only have they significantly reduced their energy usage, but through this project they are providing improved comfort for their patients and staff.
“Through this project, Gateway Regional Medical Center has set a great example others will follow. As this project demonstrates, Act On Energy incentives are designed to support projects that reduce energy consumption, decrease energy costs, improve comfort and productivity and reduce carbon footprints.”
In addition to the chiller replacement, Gateway Regional Medical Center is implementing a number of energy efficiency projects that will improve the overall patient experience.
Since Act On Energy was launched in 2008, the amount of annual incentive dollars available to customers has grown from $3 million to $10.5 million. The energy efficiency program is funded through a small charge (Rider EDR for electricity customers and Rider GER for natural gas customers) on customer bills. These charges are mandated by state law.
Complete business program information is available at ActOnEnergy.com, by calling 1-866-800-0747 or by sending an e-mail to ActOnEnergyBusiness@ameren.com.
Act On Energy offers business customers – including private schools and nonprofits – energy efficiency incentives for lighting, refrigeration, motor systems and HVAC systems. Incentives also are available for retro commissioning, multi-family buildings, commercial kitchen equipment, E-Smart thermostats and hotel and motel guest room energy management systems.
There is a program for grain and livestock farmers, providing incentives for lighting upgrades, livestock waterers and such high-efficiency equipment as circulation fans, water heaters and exhaust fans.
Act On Energy also offers the Small Business Online Store, small business commercial kitchens program, grocery/convenience store incentives and custom incentives.
“Our business customers can realize significant savings when they participate in our program,” said Cheryl Miller, Act On Energy business program manager. “For example, replacing a standard T-12 fluorescent light fixture with a high-efficiency T-8 fluorescent fixture can reduce electricity consumption by 33 percent.
“Our energy efficiency professionals are ready to help our customers take advantage of the Act On Energy incentives so they can spend less on energy by using less.”
Act On Energy also offers incentives and rebates to residential customers. For more information on residential programs, visit ActOnEnergy.com, call 1-866-838-6918 or send an e-mail to: ActOnEnergyResidential@ameren.com.
Earlier this year, the Act On Energy program was honored by the Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (MEEA), which awarded AIU with the “Inspiring Efficiency Innovation Award” for two programs. MEEA (www.mwalliance.org) is a collaborative network advancing energy efficiency in the Midwest to support sustainable economic development and environmental preservation.
Ameren Illinois (AmerenCIPS, AmerenCILCO, AmerenIP) has been providing safe, reliable energy delivery service for more than a century. Ameren Illinois delivers energy to 1.2 million electric and 813,000 natural gas customers in more than 1,200 communities within a 43,700-square-mile service territory throughout Downstate Illinois.
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Contacts: Leigh M. Morris 1-217-535-5228, Victoria Busch 1-618-346-1286