$26M deal expected to cut costs; City manager says upgrades to 92 buildings will save energy, create jobs.

• Jurisdiction: United States
• Date: 24 June 2011

Byline: Nick Kotsopoulos

WORCESTER - A $26.6 million agreement between the city and Honeywell International Inc. will cut city energy costs by more than $1.4 million a year for the next 20 years.

The agreement with Honeywell calls for implementing a comprehensive energy conservation and building modernization program for 92 city-owned buildings.

The energy-efficiency upgrades and renewable energy technology that are part of the program are guaranteed to cut the city's annual utility-energy and operating costs by more than $1.4 million per year, according to City Manager Michael V. O'Brien.

They are also expected to reduce municipal carbon dioxide emissions by more than 6,000 tons annually, and to create hundreds of jobs, he said.

Mr. O'Brien said more than 60 percent of the improvements (about $16...