Thomas MacMillan Photo
Alderman Elicker
Aldermen passed two items Monday night that proponents say will both save money and help the environment.
During their regular meeting, aldermen voted to approve a deal that will install a fuel cell behind City Hall and a measure that will prohibit the use of public funds to purchase bottled water.
Both measures passed unanimously.
East Rock Alderman Justin Elicker, chair of the City Services and Environmental Policy Committee, spoke on both items before voting.
On the fuel cell, Elicker said that an energy study paid for by stimulus money found that the city could find “substantial savings” by installing a fuel cell to provide City Hall’s heat, cooling, and power.
The city issued a request for proposals last year, seeking companies willing to do the deed. The UTC corporation won out and aldermen Monday approved a 10-year, $431,000 deal with the company to put in a 400kW fuel cell.
Giovanni Zinn, an environmental consultant with the Office of Sustainability, has estimated that the fuel cell will save the city up to $3.3 million over 20 years. The fuel cell will also be more energy efficient, cleaner, and use Connecticut technology. See background here and here.
On bottled water, Elicker said the move toward tap water will save money, help the environment, and be more healthy. He sipped from a metal bottle during the meeting.
Several types of plastic have been shown to leach toxic chemical into water, Elicker said. And while New Haven enjoys excellent tap water, “our kids are being taught that tap water is not safe.”
The city spends some $32,000 each year on bottled water trucked in from Worcester, Mass. See background here.
The bottled water ban passed unanimously, with abstentions from Newhallville Aldermen Charles Blango and Katrina Jones, who work for the Board of Education. Fair Haven Heights Alderwoman Maureen O’Sullivan-Best declined to vote.