Jefferson County officials are one step closer to making county buildings more energy-efficient with the goal of saving taxpayers money.


At Thursday's commissioners meeting, the county entered into a contract with Johnson Controls, a company that will work to improve the buildings' efficiency. The plan has been in the works for nearly a year.

From lights to windows to roofs, changes are coming to multiple county buildings.


"We did an investment-grade audit at every county facility the commissioners wanted us to look at. We found a lot of improvements," said David D'Orazio of Johnson Controls.

The courthouse, veterans building, developmental disabilities building and Job & Family Services building are all slated for improvements.

Jefferson County Commissioner Tom Graham said,"[There are] heating systems that need to be replaced and modernized, electrical things that need to be done, utility items in terms of the bathroom which can save water, too. So there are a lot of upgrades that have to be done. More than just changing a light bulb."

The project is expected to cost the county $1.3 million, but officials said no capital dollars from the county had to be put into the project. Graham said he has to go to Columbus to get the initial funding, but he looks at it as more of an investment than a cost.


"The savings from these energy-conservation measures will pay for the project," D'Orazio said.


The county will have more than $300,000 to use in the general fund -- something commissioners said made the deal more valuable.

"These are things that desperately need [to be] done and fixed in the county; of these county services. And it is a process that is bid out that Johnson Controls does, and they do all of this. It's a good deal for the county, we believe," Graham said.