Green Technology Upgrades At PA Farm Show Complex To Save $300,000 Annually

A series of self-supporting 'green' upgrades to make the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex & Expo Center more energy efficient will save more than $300,000 each year, Agriculture Secretary Dennis Wolff said this week.

The upgrades, which are funded by the annual savings they create, include installing energy efficient lighting throughout the complex, a solar-powered hot water heating system, as well as water-conserving faucets and fixtures. Heating and air-conditioning systems will also be replaced.

In addition to conserving electricity and water, the upgrades will also reduce the facility's carbon dioxide emissions by 1,650 metric tons annually; roughly the equivalent of taking 300 cars off Pennsylvania's roads each year.

"While the Farm Show Complex has always been used to showcase the latest advancements in agriculture, it will now feature eco-friendly and money-saving investments that can hopefully be implemented in homes across Pennsylvania," said Secretary Wolff.

These upgrades complement other green measures already in place at the complex, added Secretary Wolff, such as a wind turbine that produces nearly 4,000 kilowatt hours of electricity a year—enough to power an average family home for four months.

The energy savings are part of a 15-year, $3.6 million contract recently awarded to Pepco Energy Service after a competitive bid process. Pepco will be paid by the annual savings realized from the project.

The project will begin in August and is expected to be completed by April 2010.