The Umatilla County commissioners are considering undergoing an energy efficiency revamp on the county courthouse and juvenile center by taking advantage of tax credits, before equipment outlives its lifetime, breaks down and forces the improvements.

Last week Steve Rubbert, president of Enertia Energy Inc., of Beaverton, and Mark Kinzer presented the commissioners with several options for replacing the boiler, thermostat controls and light fixtures in the courthouse, and upgrading insulation and windows, adding rooftop heat pumps and replacing lighting at the juvenile center.

If the commissioners chose to do all the recommended improvements, the Enertia figures show the courthouse retrofit would run to as much as $326,000 and the juvenile center retrofit would run to about $570,000.

However, Rubbert and Kinzer said energy tax credits, energy incentives and energy loan programs through the state could lower the courthouse’s costs about $100,000 and the juvenile center’s cost about $250,000.

But it the commissioners waited until the courthouse’s 50-year-old boiler went kaput, the project would no longer qualify for those savings from the state. The project would be a capital improvement and not about improving energy efficiency, Rubbert and Kinzer said.

“You’re going to be paying for the boiler somewhere,” Rubbert said. “If it fails, there’s no incentives.”

Rubbert, taking the optimistic approach on these projects, said the county has a good opportunity with the energy efficiency credits and loans, combined with lower construction costs because of the economy.

“The incentives are never better than they’ve been now,” he said. “To me this makes sense as the perfect time.”

A year from now, contractor prices could be up 25 percent and the incentives might not be down 10 percent.

Also, Rubbert noted, the savings from using a new boiler functioning at 90 percent efficiency rather than the old one functioning at 75 percent efficiency will lower the payback time for the loan. That added with the tax credits made the payback on the boiler about 11 years, Rubbert’s presentation indicated, while the estimated average life expectancy of a boiler is 20 years. As the current boiler is more than 50 years old, the court house has proven life expectancy can be extended.

Using a new boiler also will reduce the courthouse’s carbon footprint, the pair said, which lines up with the county’s ideals.

The commissioners reached a consensus, asking Enertia Energy to look into more exact prices and giving the county time to discuss the projects with its staff, before committing to any improvements just yet.