On October 5, 2017, a nationwide network will promote the benefits of energy efficiency, for the second annual Energy Efficiency Day campaign. This collaborative effort between regional and national organizations, business, utilities, and individual’s works to promote energy efficiency: the cheapest, quickest way to reduce our energy needs, cut consumer bills, and reduce pollution.

The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) has been a strong proponent of energy efficiency through their Clean Tennessee Energy Grant (CTEG). TDEC has invested approximately $20 million over the last five years in various projects designed to reduce energy usage. Municipal governments, county governments, utility districts, and State agencies have all been recipients of CTEG funds.

Ft. Pillow State Park Visitor Center & Museum is one example of a building that has benefited from CTEG funding for energy efficiency projects. The center recently completed a lighting retrofit, replacing all of their fluorescent bulbs with more efficient LED bulbs. The LED lights have helped to brighten up the building and the bulbs will last an estimated 15 years which will not only reduce energy costs, but maintenance costs as well. The Center also had window film installed on some of their large windows that were not providing adequate protection from the harsh winter and summer temperatures. The new film essentially transforms the single pane windows into double pane creating a thermal barrier, keeping heat out during summer and cold during the winter.

A new energy efficient 16 SEER HVAC system was also installed at the Visitor Center in April 2016. Although not paid for by CTEG funds, the new unit represents a focus that State Parks maintenance has made to purchase more energy efficient equipment in all their facilities when being upgraded.

All of these energy efficiency improvements have made an immediate impact on the Visitor Center’s energy usage. During the year prior to the upgrades, the Center used 114,900 kWh of electricity. The Center’s most recent year of electric bills shows a total of only 67,500 kWh, a 41% reduction over the previous year and an annual savings of $5,000.