To save natural resources and to reduce energy costs, the LFUCG has been working hard to improve energy efficiency. Some notable recent efforts include installing Variable Speed Drives on the chillers at the Detention Center (this is projected to result in an energy savings of 460,560 kWh/year, a monetary savings of $18,850 per year and a CO2 reduction of 424 metric tons per year), sponsoring the Bluegrass Green Living and Energy EXPO, replacing one large screw pump with a capacity of 25 million gallons per day at the West Hickman Treatment Plant with two smaller pumps having a capacity of 12.8 million gallons per day, using LED lights on the downtown Christmas tree for the first time, distributing wallet cards with energy tips to all LFUCG employees, serving as a pledge driver in the EPA Change a Light Campaign, implementing a policy of purchasing EPA Energy Star rated lighting, heating and cooling equipment, and facilitating the LFUCG Energy Efficiency Annual Awards which recognize divisions that take steps to save energy. The Division of Traffic Engineering also continued the use of LED traffic signal modules which use significantly less energy than incandescent signals- this upgrade has lowered LFUCG energy costs for these signals by approximately $120,000 per year, reduced maintenance costs significantly and also reduced greenhouse gas emissions. Previously we have: Established an internal Energy Management Team and developed an Energy Management Policy. Implemented an energy conservation program to educate employees about the importance of energy conservation. The city has established an internal energy efficiency award to recognize divisions that improve energy efficiency. Joined the EPA Energy Star Partnership and the Department of Energy Rebuild America Partnership, both of which promote energy efficiency. The city also joined the EPA Change A Light Campaign in September 2006 as a pledge driver. We have asked our employees and those who live or work in Fayette County to replace incandescent bulbs with more energy efficient bulbs. Joined the EPA Million Monitor Drive. We agreed to enable the power management features on 1,000 of our computers to “sleep” when not being used. This reduces electricity usage by some 200,000 kilowatt hours and reduces greenhouse gas emissions by over 316,000 pounds. This action saves the city some $10,000 a year in electricity costs. Purchased many energy-efficient items including EPA Energy Star rated computers, office equipment, electronic light ballasts, light emitting diode (LED) scoreboards and exit signs, and programmable thermostats. Turned off display lights in many vending machines. This can reduce energy costs by more than $30 a year for each machine. The city has also purchased Vending Misers for 20 Parks and Recreation soda machines that further reduce energy usage. Vending Misers help the machine's compressor run more efficiently and turn off the machine's display lights when no one is present; these also turn the lights back on when the machine is approached. We anticipate saving $175 a year in energy costs for these machines. Installed an energy efficient geothermal heating and cooling system at the Day Treatment Center. Geothermal units are as much as 33% more energy efficient than conventional HVAC units. Purchased sensor-activated lighting controls for select office space at the Adult Detention Center and a solar-powered pump to aerate a pond at that facility. These changes will cut energy usage by over 95,000 kilowatt hours a year; reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 150,000 pounds; and save the city $5,000 annually. Use excess methane generated during the treatment process at Town Branch Sewage Treatment Plant to help run the sludge digesters at the plant. Approximately 36 million feet of this biogas (which has approximately 60% of the energy value of natural gas) is used this way each year. Replaced inefficient incandescent traffic signal bulbs with LEDs that use significantly less energy. The Division of Traffic Engineering, in conjunction with the Kentucky Department of Highways, has retrofitted 10,088-signal indicators in Fayette County to the newer gel core type LED. The cost of the upgrade is being paid for out of energy savings. Since this upgrade was completed in July 2005, electrical costs for these traffic signals have been reduced by some $10,000 a month. Maintenance costs have also decreased since the LEDs do not have to be replaced as frequently as incandescent bulbs. Based on Kentucky Department of Highways calculations, Lexington's annual energy savings is expected to be around 4.6 million kilowatt hours -- enough electricity to power 430 Fayette County homes. Purchased 41 fuel-efficient gasoline-electric hybrid vehicles in our general fleet. This is the largest number of gasoline-electric hybrid cars in one fleet (public or private) in Kentucky. These vehicles get about twice the mileage of the vehicles they replaced Eliminated the LFUCG central refueling station. The city now purchases fuel from a vendor with retail stations throughout the county. This reduces the number of miles driven and saves man hours since employees do not have to drive to a central point to refuel. This reduced the amount of fuel we used by 41,000 gallons during the first nine months after this change occurred. Switched from twice-a-week garbage collection to once-a-week garbage collection. This change will help the environment by reducing miles driven and vehicle emissions as well as conserving fuel and other resources.