The Commonwealth Financing Authority Tuesday awarded Council Rock School District a $2 million state grant through the Alternative and Clean Energy Program for comprehensive energy efficiency upgrades to Rolling Hills Elementary School in Northampton Township, Bucks County, according to Sen. Tommy Tomlinson (R-Bucks).

Sen. Tomlinson said the district will use the grant to help renovate 54,110 square feet as well as construct 10,524 square feet of additions to Rolling Hills Elementary School.

Planned energy savings features include geothermal heating and cooling, energy-efficient lighting, automated energy control systems, low-flow water-saving fixtures, occupancy- based temperature and lighting, solar panels and an improved thermal envelope.

The project is expected to reduce energy consumption by an estimated 1,118,324 kBTU annually. Low-flow water fixtures will reduce water consumption by more than 53,676 gallons annually, a savings of 20 percent.

The total project cost is $22,468,100.

“We are thrilled that the residents of Council Rock will benefit from this $2 million grant toward making energy conservation part of the anticipated renovations of Rolling Hills Elementary. This brings a total of $6 million that State Senator Tommy Tomlinson has brought to Council Rock. He also helped to obtain $2 million grants for Holland Middle and Newtown Middle School, both of which are targeting opening in the fall for the 2018-2019 school year. I would like to thank Senator Tomlinson for his continuous support of Council Rock. Without his leadership and that of the entire school board, this would have never happened,” said Jerold Grupp, President of Council Rock School Board.

“By implementing energy efficiency features, the school district will be able to save tax dollars and provide a better, more environmentally friendly facility for students and teachers,” Tomlinson said. “I’m pleased that a school in our district is benefitting from this funding.”

New Applications Deadline

The Commonwealth Financing Authority is accepting on a rolling basis for several of energy-related funding programs.  The last deadline for applications for these programs in 2018 is September 15--

-- CFA Alternative & Clean Energy Funding

-- CFA Renewable Energy-Geothermal & Wind Funding

-- CFA Solar Energy Funding

-- CFA High Performance Building Funding

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[Posted: July 17, 2018]

7/23/2018