City of DuQuoin
DuQuoin, Illinois
Intern: Christian Lange
Southern Illinois University, Carbondale
The City of DuQuoin is a small town with a population of approximately 6,600 people. It
is located approximately 25 miles north of Carbondale. Two years ago, the
City of DuQuoin was the first community to complete a Green Visioning Plan under
a grant from Illinois EPA. The Green Plan included a number of environmental
improvement goals and actions steps that could help make the city a more sustainable
and environmentally friendly place to live, visit and work.
The intern focused on identifying energy efficiency opportunities for city operations
and providing energy audits to local businesses.
Results:
The intern made the following recommendations:
- Replace a 1994 pickup truck used by the public works director with an environmentally
friendly model that can save gasoline and reduce emissions. A hybrid electric
car has been placed in the 2006 city budget that will save over 750 gallons of
fuel annually with a yearly cost savings over $2,200.
- Upgrade traffic signals to LED units to save energy and reduce operating costs. Converting
to LED traffic signals is currently underway in DuQuoin. The project is
estimated to reduce electricity use by 51,880 kilowatt-hours and cut costs by
$4,000 annually. This project will also reduce carbon dioxide emissions
that contribute to global climate change by 43 tons.
- Replace high-pressure sodium street lamps with LED units. Retrofitting
the 560 lamps citywide could reduce energy consumption by 290,304 kilowatt-hours
and eliminate 238 tons of carbon emissions while saving over $23,000 annually. The
city has signed an agreement with its utility provider and created a lighting
ordinance to establish operating standards for the street lamps. DuQuoin
is the first municipality in the state to utilize LED street lighting. LED
street lamps will be used to light the newly constructed skate park and 6 LED
street lights will be piloted on East Main Street.
- Utilize an auxiliary ventilation system on the HVAC system that services City
Hall. This project could save 619 kilowatt-hours and cut carbon emissions
by 1/2 ton.
- The intern recommended the implementation of lighting upgrades at the DuQuoin
State Fairgrounds. They have the potential reduce electricity use by 223,812
kilowatt-hours and cut carbon emissions by 183 tons.
- Implement energy efficiency projects at several local businesses. These
projects have the potential to reduce electricity use by 26.5 kilowatt-hours
and save over $6,000 annually.
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