Energy Efficiency Allows County to Stretch Tax Dollars Further
A new HVAC system and other improvements to County Government buildings is starting to produce the expected savings St. Charles County worked to achieve on utility costs over 15 years, according to Director of Facilities Management Christine Ramsdell.
Ramsdell developed the program with her staff in response to County Executive Steve Ehlmann’s challenge to his department directors to do better with the resources the taxpayers have entrusted to the government. So far, the County is already seeing lower energy costs in the buildings that have been renovated.
“In 2025, we reduced our electric use by more than 15% compared to 2024 for the sites we had implemented,” Ramsdell says. “The lighting upgrade had a significant impact on electric use.”
The project will allow the County to redirect $7 million formerly spent on utilities, lighting, heating and cooling into other facilities maintenance needs.
“As part of our contract with the vendor, they outlined the expected savings each year,” Ramsdell says. “This guarantee is then part of the contract. If the savings aren’t met, the vendor owes the County the difference.” Ramsdell says the contract includes annual audits of utility use to verify energy savings.
The project started in 2022 and is scheduled to conclude in 2026.
The seven buildings getting the improvements are:
- County Administration Building, 201 N. Second Street in St. Charles
- County Executive Building, 100 N. Third Street in St. Charles
- 11th Judicial Circuit Court Building, 300 N. Second Street in St. Charles
- County Police Headquarters, 101 Sheriff Dierker Court in O’Fallon
- Family Arena, 2002 Arena Parkway in St. Charles
- Juvenile Justice Center, 1700 S. River Road in St. Charles
- Highway Building, 301 N. Third Street in St. Charles
In addition to those seven, one other County building also received automated LED lighting to lower energy costs—the Pet Adoption Center at 4850 Mid Rivers Mall Drive in St. Peters.
“These upgrades are about more than just energy savings,” Ramsdell says. “They’re about making our community spaces functional and comfortable for employees and residents for years to come, and making sure we are using tax dollars efficiently.”
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