Department of Energy Grant Will Update Pa. Emergency Services Center

YORK, Pa. — York County Commissioners on Wednesday approved four projects expected to reduce consumption and save money on utilities, and none of them are being funded by county taxes.

The $291,000 in projects is being paid for by a federal Department of Energy grant and state rebate money, paid by utilities to encourage energy efficiency.

Facilities Director Scott Cassel said the four projects are:

**Installing storm windows at the county’s Human Services building, 100 W. Market St. The second floor of the old department store has historically significant stained glass windows that are “beautiful, but tend to be drafty,” Cassel said. Sheets of acrylic glass will be placed inside the windows to reduce air exchange. The cost is about $12,000.

**Improving parking lot lighting efficiencies at the Pleasant Acres Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Springettsbury Township.

**Lighting efficiencies at Nixon County Park buildings.

**Updating the county Emergency Services Center’s geothermal heating, ventilation and air conditioning system with new modern efficiencies.

The work at the building, 120 Davies Drive in Springettsbury Township, is expected to cost $252,200. The county expects to see that much in savings within five years because of electrical efficiencies achieved, Cassel said.

The work was added to a pre-existing contract with McClure Co. of Harrisburg. The window and lighting projects should be completed within weeks, while the geothermal upgrade is likely to take a few months, Cassel said.

Other business: Also at Wednesday’s commissioners’ meeting, the board approved a contract service agreement between the county’s Department of Emergency Services and New World Systems of Troy, Mich.

Under the $13,200 contract, an interface will be developed to allow emergency service providers to share treatment data with the state and federal government, said Ted Hake, chief at Yoe Fire Co. Ambulance.

In the event of a cardiac arrest, for example, the ambulance crew will be able to report which treatment methods were effective in resuscitation. That information is shared and helps to form the new treatment guidelines for first responders and others, Hake said.