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Gladstone center to get smart thermostats; nonprofit to replace fluorescent lights for free
Summary
Community center staff said a recent PGE energy audit will bring smart thermostats to stabilize building temperatures and that Energy Trust of Oregon will replace fluorescent lighting with LED fixtures at no cost, an upgrade the city may feature as a local energy‑savings case study.
Michelle, community center staff, told the Gladstone Community Center Advisory Board on April 20 that a recent Portland General Electric energy audit found inconsistent thermostats and outdated fluorescent fixtures in the building and recommended upgrades.
"They are coming in next week and replacing all of our thermostats with smart thermostats," Michelle said, adding the new units will maintain a single setpoint so heating or air conditioning runs as needed. She also said the auditor connected the center with the business arm of Energy Trust of Oregon, which agreed to replace fixtures and bulbs with LED lighting at no charge.
"They're gonna come in and replace all of our lighting with LED lighting, all our fixtures, everything, for absolutely free," she said. Michelle noted fluorescent bulbs are effectively no longer sold in Oregon and that the retrofit should improve visibility and reduce energy costs.
Energy upgrades follow repeated complaints about temperature inconsistency across rooms. Michelle said the smart thermostats and the lighting project together could make the center a local example of energy savings; staff were asked to coordinate timeline details with the city and PGE.
The board did not take a formal vote on the retrofit during the meeting; Michelle said she will follow up with staff and city public works about scheduling and any communications or publicity for the city’s participation as a case study.
