City to Kick Off Energy Efficiency and Infrastructure Improvements

City to Kick Off Energy Efficiency and Infrastructure Improvements

(EVANSVILLE, IN) – December 2, 2010 – Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel announced today that the City of Evansville has selected Evansville-based Energy Systems Group (ESG), a specialized energy services and performance contracting company (ESCO), to complete comprehensive energy audits of City facilities in order to identify key energy efficiency and infrastructure improvements.

“Energy conservation is a key strategy in achieving the goals of the City of Evansville’s Sustainability Policy that I enacted in 2007; and is the most effective, most efficient way to reduce the City’s contribution to climate change and other environmental impacts,” stated Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel. “Energy conservation efforts will also have a positive impact on the City’s operating budget. Energy costs will continue to increase, so it’s sensible to do what we can to reduce our energy usage. The money we save on utility bills can be redirected toward fulfilling our other responsibilities to citizens, such as providing for public safety; maintaining parks, streets and sewers; and keeping Evansville a wonderful place to live.”

The selection of ESG is the result of a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) the City issued in September. The City will consult with ESG to determine which buildings are good candidates for energy audits. The audits will be funded with Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Program funds the City received from the U.S. Department of Energy as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The City will decide which specific projects to undertake based on the recommendations detailed in the audit reports. The aim will be to identify energy conservation measures that will reduce energy usage by 10 – 30 percent from pre-project levels. Project implementation will be funded by the EECBG and energy performance contracts.

“This will give the City the opportunity to implement some long-needed repairs and upgrades without raising taxes or negatively impacting the City budget,” said Dona Bergman, director of the City of Evansville Department of Sustainability, Energy and Environmental Quality, who will oversee the project. “In fact, the energy savings the City expects to realize could actually have a positive impact on the City budget.”

“ESG commends the City of Evansville’s commitment to sustainability and carbon footprint reduction,” said Jim Adams, ESG president. “As a company headquartered in Evansville since 1994, we are especially looking forward to making such an impact throughout our home community.”

Energy Systems Group (ESG), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Vectren Corporation (NYSE: VVC), is an award-winning energy services company that specializes in delivering sustainable energy solutions which allow building owners to maximize their energy efficiency and operational performance, while reducing their carbon footprint. Through its core business of performance contracting, ESG provides customers with innovative energy efficiency, technology, and long term financing solutions for modernization of their facilities and energy infrastructure. To learn more about ESG, visit www.energysystemsgroup.com.