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TECO Audit Helps Energy-Conscious Hillsborough Jails

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By JOSH POLTILOVE | The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 23, 2008

TAMPA - Tampa Electric Co. performed an energy audit last week at Hillsborough County's jails, which in recent months have sought ways to save money on energy bills.

The audit yielded positive results, although some ideas generated by the audit had been in the works, Col. Jim Previtera said.

In recent days, Falkenburg Road Jail and Orient Road Jail have raised their air-conditioning temperature 2 degrees. Previtera, who heads the county's jails, said TECO told him that each degree warmer could save 5 percent on air-conditioning costs.

"I haven't noticed a difference since we changed the temperature, and I like it cold," he said.

Previtera is looking into adding motion sensors to lights in certain jail areas, including administrative areas of Orient Road Jail, so power would be off when no one is there.

He also is removing a dozen soda machines total from the two jails. TECO told him each machine costs about $65 a month in electricity. "We're going to make sure we need every machine that's here," he said.

After Previtera was promoted Sept. 30, he told staffers to cut down on energy use by any safe means necessary. He told detention department personnel to reduce water, electricity and fossil fuel use.

Falkenburg had $193,730 in charges from TECO for September. Orient racked up $120,355 in charges that month.

In October, Falkenburg's bill was about $37,300 less. Orient's was about $22,600 less. Some of the nearly $60,000 in cost savings is likely attributable to weather changes, Previtera said, but much of it also has to do with orders he handed down.

November's bill shows even more savings. Falkenburg's bill was $122,587. Orient's was $85,033.

Yes, Falkenburg's bill was about $16,000 higher than November 2007. But in the past year, Falkenburg built a new administration wing and lockdown housing unit, Previtera said. The housing unit isn't open yet but already gets electricity.

It's crucial to cut down on power usage, especially with shrinking budgets and the fact that TECO customers will face increases in electric bills next year, Previtera said. TECO says the 12 percent increase is necessary to cover higher costs for coal, oil and natural gas, which are used to generate electricity.

Among Previtera's recent orders to staff:

• When areas such as storage rooms, closets and offices aren't in use, lights should be turned off.

• Copiers and computers should be off when offices aren't in use.

• Deputies should closely monitor washers and dryers for inmates, making sure loads are maximized.

• Jail deputies will have the discretion to turn on or off lights in inmate housing units.

Reporter Josh Poltilove can be reached at (813) 259-7691.

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