Stimulus money making Livingston green

Thanks to nearly $800,000 in federal stimulus money, Livingston Parish government is on the cusp of setting a new standard for local conservation. With the newly acquired cash, Livingston officials will hire a technical consultant and organize a volunteer-based “Energy Efficiency and Conservation Committee” to recommend best practices for going greener and to oversee how the money is spent. The grant dollars, awarded by the U.S. Department of Energy, will also be used to retrofit public buildings and vehicles with the latest technology to reduce consumption. The top target, also the area’s biggest energy user, is the 68-year-old Livingston Parish Courthouse. It’s first on deck for changes. Overall, Livingston Parish intends to reduce its energy consumption by 15%, saving taxpayers thousands of dollars annually, Livingston Parish President Mike Grimmer says. “We want to take the lead in creating a community focused on energy efficiency, conservation and sustainable development,” Grimmer says. “We hope to set a responsible, regional example of what can be done to preserve resources and save money.” The project will begin in early 2010 with an audit of energy usage in parish-owned buildings to identify priorities. The parish will then phase in energy-saving measures, as well as train its staff in better conservation practices, Grimmer says. To read the rest of 10/12 Corridor Weekly, click here.—Jeremy Alford