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          NEWS RELEASE FROM STATE SENATOR HENRY MELLO


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For immediate release: March 7, 1995
PR # 807


                MELLO ANNOUNCES ENERGY GRANT


SACRAMENTO -- State Senator Henry Mello announced today that 
Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital will undergo a major energy 
upgrade, thanks to a $130,832 matching grant recommended by the 
California Energy Commission from a federal energy conservation 
program.

The grant, which need not be repaid, should enable the 232-bed 
hospital to reduce its utility bills by almost $64,000 a year.

Tim Denham, Project Manager at the 250,000-square foot hospital, 
said the energy upgrade will hook up the Biomedical Building, 
which operates its own air-conditioning system, to the central 
air-conditioning network for power efficiency.  According to 
Denham, "Improvements will also include: replacement of air-
conditioning motors with energy saving units; installation of 
motion sensor in conference rooms, cafeteria and a number of 
offices to turn off lights when the rooms are unoccupied; and 
additional thermostats and controls that will be added to the 
facility's energy management system."

"Salinas Valley Memorial stands as a leader in energy efficiency 
among hospitals," said Senator Mello. "It should be acknowledged 
for cost-cutting measures to continue dispensing affordable 
medicine to the community."

Total cost for the energy improvement project is $261,664.  From 
the projected savings alone, the hospital should recover its 
matching funds of $130,832 in a little over two years.


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For more information, contact:

Cathy O'Boyle,  (408) 757-4169



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File name: 1995_03_07_Senator_Mello_Releas