news-record.com

Forsyth residents can help the county earn some cash by participating in two national challenges that aim to reduce energy consumption.

The county is participating in the National Association of Counties' green county competition that runs from July 1 to Nov. 30. The first challenge asks residents and county employees to save energy at home and the second focuses on reducing automobile gasoline use. The participating counties are eligible for a $5,000 grant from Walmart and a $3,500 grant from AutoZone. 

Forsyth construction manager Gary Key said the county would allocate any winnings to its energy management fund, which has a budget of about $5,000. Key said the county has done several things over the past year to save energy, including installing a program in the spring that electronically raises the temperatures in buildings at night and on weekends during the warmer months. He estimated that the government center on Chestnut Street would save $80,000 a year in energy costs using the technology; the public health and social services buildings are getting the technology this summer.