C. Falls vets home to get energy upgrade

The Daily Inter Lake

Stimulus money will help pay for $1.3 million project

The Montana Veterans Home in Columbia Falls will get a $1.3 million energy-efficiency upgrade, thanks in part to federal stimulus money.

The Montana Department of Environmental Quality's State Buildings Energy Conservation Program and the Department of Administration's Architecture & Engineering Division are collaborating on the project to install modern digital controls, new high-efficiency boilers, a heat recovery system, variable air volume equipment, and a groundwater cooling system.

Outdated fan coil units that provided heat and air conditioning to individual rooms are slated for removal. When completed, the improvements will result in energy cost savings of approximately $33,000 per year.

The funding is a combination of $800,000 of deferred maintenance funds from the Long Range Building Program administered by the Department of Administration, and $500,000 of Amercian Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds administered by the state.

"I'm very pleased that this project was the first," Gov. Brian Schweitzer said this week as he made the announcement. "In addition to improving energy efficiency, saving money and creating jobs it will improve the living conditions for veterans that have given so much to our country."

The mechanical and electrical systems bid was awarded to Diamond Plumbing & Heating of Kalispell. The groundwater cooling system well drilling was awarded to Liberty Drilling and Pump Company, also of Kalispell. Morrison-Maierle is the architect/engineer on the project.

In 2007 the governor set a goal to reduce facility energy use in state buildings by 20 percent by the end of 2010 - an initiative known as 20x10.The Columbia Falls Veterans Home work will be one of more than 60 projects throughout the state funded with $21.7 million in federal recovery act funding that will help meet the 20 percent energy reduction goal.