Virginia City Community Chest Inc. employees will be warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer, thanks to a $10,000 energy efficiency grant from Sierra Pacific Power Co.
The nonprofit organization received $15,000 total from Sierra Pacific Power to replace its shingle roof with a metal roof, install attic insulation and help pay the mortgage.
The Community Chest's three-story building at 991 S. C St. was one of the few to survive the Virginia City fire of 1875, which destroyed much of the town.
The nonprofit agency provides counseling, early childhood education and community development programs in Storey County.
"It's a huge commitment from Sierra Pacific to nonprofits like ours to help reduce our operating costs, which in turn enables us to spend more time and effort on the work we do, which is building healthy communities and families in Northern Nevada," said Executive Director Shaun Griffin.
Mary Simmons, vice president of external affairs for Sierra Pacific, presented the $10,000 check to Griffin Tuesday at the Storey County Commission meeting. This energy efficiency grant money will help the Community Chest decrease its energy bill by 10 percent.
When completed, the improvements will help the agency save about $1,100 on its annual energy bill, said Larry Rackley, project manager for energy efficiency programs. He said the purpose of the grant program is to help nonprofit groups better manager their utility costs and to help reduce the total amount of energy that Sierra Pacific needs to produce at its power plants.
Sierra Pacific spokesman Karl Walquist said the Sierra Pacific Charitable Foundation also donated $5,000 to the organization.
"That $5,000 will help the Community Chest to pay off mortgage on the building," he said.
Visit the agency at www.communitychestnevada.org.
n Contact reporter Becky Bosshart at bbosshart@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1212.
