City Greening Up Its Act with New Storm Drains, HVAC Units

The City of Fountain Valley is doing its part to reduce its carbon footprint and keep our oceans clean with two new projects—and saving the city a few bucks in the process.

With its first project, the city is taking steps to replace its heating ventilation and air conditioning units. HVAC units on top of the police department and recreation center roofs have been replaced, and the heating boiler in the recreation center was also replaced.

At current Southern California Edison rates, the city spends approximately $451,000 per year on electricity. Fountain Valley's Energy Efficient Project will reduce energy cost by about $147,000 and operating costs by almost $83,000, for a total annual savings of approximately $230,000.

The city is also installing new filters in 63 of its storm drains to prevent trash from making its way through the storm drain system and out to the ocean. The filters are being paid for with $99,645 in Orange County Transit Authority grant money, and the city's Public Works department will periodically dipsose of any trash that collects in the filters.