York County will spend about $6.1 million on facilities upgrades, but the resulting energy savings are expected to pay for the project.

County Commissioners on Wednesday voted unanimously to approve a contract with McClure Co., a Harrisburg-based firm that guarantees the county will save at least $380,000 a year - enough to cover a loan financing the project - in utilities costs if it spends the money to make the improvements, most of which were identified at York County Prison.

Projects include replacement of boilers and pumps, air-conditioning units, and plumbing and laundry upgrades at the prison, window and exterior door upgrades at the annex, and piping insulation upgrades at the nursing home.

Commissioners last week heard a presentation from McClure account manager Shayne Homan, recommending 22 energy conservation measures. Most of the facilities are more than 30 years old.

Homan said the county spends $2.7 million per year on utilities, mostly electricity and gas, to operate the buildings. Based on an audit completed by the firm, the county is losing $380,000 per year because of aging or inefficient buildings and equipment.

Under the contract with McClure, the firm will pay the county the difference if the county doesn't save $380,000 per year, Homan said. He said the cost of financing the $6.1 million in upgrades would be about $349,000, so the county will have a net savings of $1.5 million over the next 20 years if it achieves at least the minimum savings.

Facilities director Scott Cassel said the county will start work as soon as possible.

- Reach Christina Kauffman at ckauffman@yorkdispatch.com.