A news release from Lewis County on Tuesday boasted that construction on new “energy-efficient upgrades to the Lewis County Jail” are coming in under budgets for both time and money.
The age and state of the jail became a point of contention during the last Lewis County Sheriff’s election. Lewis County Commissioner Scott Brummer, in the release, said the upgrades will “extend the life” of the jail.
The new HVAC system being installed could save the county more than $50,000 annually in energy costs, according to the county. The upgrade replaces equipment that’s been in use since 2005 and brings the jail in line with state energy codes.
“We’re replacing aging equipment with a modern energy efficient system,” said Lewis County Capital Facilities Manager Doug Carey in the release. “The big news is the significant operational cost savings that the county will receive over the 20-25 year life of the new equipment.”
Brummer added that the “savings from reduced utilities and maintenance will be a benefit to the taxpayers.”
The upgrades will improve the quality of working for correctional officers, the news release said. It did not mention benefits for inmates.
