Page 203 - BWM Dec 2012

December 2012 | Business World Magazine | 203
we were being more energy efficient,” says
Jones.
Both City Manager Lewis and Com-
missioner Jones praise key city staff for di-
recting the varied projects and programs that
has provided North Port with increased sav-
ings and increased recognition, or as Jones
refers to that staff, “The Green Team.”
Stan Frank is the Green TeamCaptain,
otherwise known as North Port’s Grants and
Environmental Coordinator. Though quick
to recognize North Port has made significant
strides in effecting change, both in terms of
energy consumption and public awareness,
Frank says current accomplishments are
“only the beginning.”
“We’re still looking for ways to expand
the process. It doesn’t end. There’s other
things we can still do for the future,” says
Frank.
Among future goals, Frank says North
Port is looking to develop a long term rela-
tionship with a State Chartered Energy Ser-
vices Company (known as ESCOs). There
are a handful of companies (think Siemens,
Florida Power & Light, Honeywell, to name
a few) who specialize in providing audits that
identify areas where greater energy efficiency
can be realized. They conduct rigorous re-
views and analytics that demonstrate what
the cost savings would be by implementing
corrective actions.
“These companies can help save more
in avoided energy costs than it costs for them
to take on the project,” says Frank. “If they
save you more money than projected, you
get to keep the difference. If you don’t save
Green Team & City Commission