The new Christus Memorial Hospital in Kilgore, Texas, was constructed with energy efficient features as part of Southwestern Electric Power Company’s (SWEPCO) energy efficiency incentive program.
SWEPCO provided the City of Kilgore $25,755 for enhancements that are projected to reduce the hospital’s power usage by about 510,204.84 kilowatt-hours annually - enough electricity to power 48 average sized U.S. homes for a year. The upgrades include high-efficiency HVAC systems, LED lighting, and variable frequency drive controls.
This is the latest energy efficiency investment SWEPCO has made in northeast Texas hospitals. In the last couple of years, SWEPCO has provided nearly $200,000 in funding for energy efficiency improvements at Christus Good Shepherd Hospital in Longview, Texas and Christus St. Michael Hospital in Texarkana, Texas for a combined reduction of more than 2.2 million kilowatt-hours. That is enough energy to supply New York City with power for a day and a half.
Reducing kilowatt hours has significant benefits. Energy efficiency lowers utility bills and improves power reliability in times of high demand across a region. SWEPCO offers a range of energy efficiency programs designed to benefit both residential and business customers across Texas. For more information on how these initiatives can contribute to energy savings and sustainability, customers can visit SWEPCOsolutions.com.
“SWEPCO has been a great partner and energy provider for a long time,” said Clay Evers, director of public works for the City of Kilgore. “They have been very attentive in the partnership, and this shows their commitment to our city. They made the process very easy. All I had to do was provide them with the information, and they found the areas that we qualified for. It saved me a lot of time.”
The Christus Memorial Hospital project is just the latest partnership between SWEPCO and the City of Kilgore. The collaboration began in 2023 with a project at Chandler Elementary School. SWEPCO provided Kilgore Independent School District with more than $44,000 in incentives for HVAC and lighting upgrades that reduced power usage by 320,128 kilowatt-hours.
“This project exemplifies our commitment to sustainable development within the communities we serve,” said Kawona Abmas, energy efficiency and consumer program coordinator for SWEPCO. “We are proud to partner with the City of Kilgore on initiatives that enhance infrastructure while promoting energy efficiency and environmental stewardship. Together, we are building a brighter, more sustainable future for the residents of Kilgore.”