County commission approves energy-savings resolution

St. Joseph County’s government buildings will likely be undergoing an energy-savings process, following action taken Tuesday by the board of commissioners.

The five-member panel approved a resolution in support of pursuing an agreement with New York-based ABM Building Solutions, which has guaranteed energy savings through analysis of county-owned buildings, including its historic courthouse, courts building, jail and annex buildings.

County administrator Teresa Doehring said the potential agreement with ABM has been nearly a year in the making and will hopefully accomplish much-needed mechanical infrastructure upgrades at the county-own buildings.

ABM representative Tom Hogan said the county’s buildings have a fair share of failing infrastructure-related problems. The good news, he said, is ABM will note those areas, their shortcomings and propose solutions to correct whatever will result in more efficient building operations.

He said the process can take more than a year and will likely involve measures such as replacing HVAC equipment and lighting, and correcting leaks and cracks in buildings, for example.