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                   NEWS RELEASE FROM THE

               CALIFORNIA ENERGY COMMISSION


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CONTACT:                               For immediate release:
Rob Schlichting (916) 654-4159         March 1, 1995



            MARTINEZ REVAMPS HISTORIC CITY HALL,
               EARNS ENERGY COMMISSION AWARD


SACRAMENTO -- Because of the care with which it remodeled its 
historic City Hall, the city of Martinez will be presented 
with an award for "Outstanding Energy Achievement in Local 
Government" at the City Council meeting Monday evening, 
March 6, 1995.

The resolution from the California Energy Commission commends 
Martinez for "reducing energy use, saving revenue for public 
services, and setting an example for all businesses and 
residents in the community." 

"Martinez has demonstrated a strong commitment to cut energy 
costs with its City Hall project," acknowledged Commissioner 
Jananne Sharpless of the Energy Commission.  "Since 1993, city
officials have worked closely with the Commission to reduce 
energy waste." 

The City Hall, which is eligible for designation as an 
historic landmark, was constructed in 1916.  "It was an 
attractive old building on the outside, but inside it was 
dark, dingy, drafty and cold," said  Dave Scola, the city's 
Chief Building Inspector who served as Construction Manager 
for the rehabilitation project.  "The building had been added 
onto, remodeled and cut up just too many times.  The roof 
leaked and the heating system wasn't adequate."

Damage from the Loma Prieta earthquake finally forced Martinez
to rehabilitate City Hall.  "In addition to seismic upgrading,
we needed to raise parts of the building above the floodplain 
on which it was built.  We also needed to comply with the 
federal disabilities act to make the structure accessible to 
all," Scola explained.

Much care was taken to retain the period look of the old 
building's exterior.  Before redesigning the interior, 
however, the city conducted a detailed survey of energy use, 
as part of the Energy Commission's Energy Partnership Program.  

As a result of the survey, outdated lighting fixtures 
throughout the 25,000 square-foot building were fitted with 
new high efficiency fluorescent lamps and electronic ballasts. 
Motion sensors were also installed to turn off lights in rooms
that were unoccupied.

"We gutted the original building, which is a wood frame 
structure with a brick veneer," Scola said.  "In the process, 
we added some wall insulation when we did reframing.  We also 
improved our level of insulation in the building's ceilings, 
and replaced many of the old windows with more energy 
efficient, double-pane models."

In addition to adding new plumbing and electrical systems, the
city revamped the building's heating and cooling system.  
Variable Frequency Drives were added to fans in the East and 
West Wings, and old motors were replaced with energy efficient
versions.

"Our energy upgrade was a huge success," Scola said.  We're 
proud to say we've made City Hall much more comfortable, and 
we've achieved great energy savings in the process,"  He 
estimated that the energy improvements would cut the city's 
annual utility bill by over $15,000 a year.  

The energy efficiency projects were funded with a $60,000 
low-interest loan from the Energy Commission.  Just from the 
energy savings, the loan should be repaid in four years. 

Scott Matthews, the Commission's Deputy Division Chief for 
Energy Efficiency, and Ann Peterson, an Energy Efficiency 
Marketing Specialist, will join in presenting the resolution 
on behalf of the Commission.


                           # # #


For more information, contact:

Dave Scola
Chief Building Inspector, City of Martinez, (510) 372-3565

Rob Schlichting
California Energy Commission, (916) 654-5159



end of file
File name: 1995_03_01_Martinez_Awar