The City of Reading has embarked on a nearly $18 million energy-efficient upgrade, aimed at enhancing sustainability and reducing energy costs. In partnership with Schneider Electric, the project will span over the next two years and involve significant infrastructure improvements, including the installation of LED lighting and solar canopies across several municipal buildings.
The project, which is part of the Guaranteed Energy Savings Act (GESA) program, will see LED lights added to City Hall, public parks, recreation centers, and the Public Works building. In addition, solar canopies will be installed at City Hall, the Public Works building, and the Cedar Street parking lot. Key upgrades will also include modernizing heating and air conditioning systems in four historical fieldhouses located at Pendora, Keffer, Schlegel, and Baer Parks.
Bethany Ayers-Fisher, the city’s Sustainability Manager, outlined the project’s benefits during a recent interview with Dr. Jodi Radosh at Alvernia University. “When all is said and done with energy savings calculations, we expect the project to significantly reduce energy costs,” she said. The improvements are expected to save Reading approximately $9 million over the next 20 years. Funded through a combination of a $12 million loan and $6 million in COVID-19 relief funds, the project’s total cost will be reduced to $4 million after accounting for energy savings, utility rebates, and federal grant support…