MICHELLE WILLARD, Post Staff Writer
Posted: Wednesday, September 30, 2009 3:32 pm

Murfreesboro City Hall may become a little greener in the near future.

The city has applied for $961,100 in federal stimulus funds to develop an energy conservation strategy and make city hall more energy efficient, Murfreesboro spokesman Chris Shofner said.

“Obviously if we improve cost savings on energy efficiency in the buildng, it translates into savings for the taxpayer and reduces our carbon footprint which is one of the goals of the program,” he said.

The program is the Department of Energy’s Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) program, which provides funds to local governments to improve energy efficiency in buildings like Murfreesboro City Hall.

A Tennessee Valley Authority Audit found “improvements that could be made to reduce City Hall’s energy demand,” like upgrading the 18-year-old heating and air conditioning system, better lighting and even installing solar panels on the roof, Shofner said.

“(TVA’s) report became a blueprint for an overall strategy to improve City Hall’s energy efficiency, something that will save money for taxpayers and conserve energy at the same time,” he said.

City council will vote on accepting the application for stimulus funds at its regular Thursday night meeting.

In April Rutherford County also qualified for a $418,000 grant through the same program.

The county plans to use the money to upgrade the boiler in the Judicial Building, upgrade the air conditioning system in the old bank building, at the Adult Activity Center and in the Goldstein Building, and replace lights and sensors in buildings to make them more energy efficient.

Michelle Willard can be contacted at 615-869-0816 or mwillard@murfreesboropost.com.