Elmira, N.Y.--New York State Senator George Winner (R-C-I, Elmira) announced that the town of Lindley (Steuben County) will receive a $40,000 state grant to improve the energy efficiency of the Elroy H. Young Municipal Building.

"It’s a wise state investment at a time when energy costs are rising and local taxpayers are overburdened," said Winner. "This state grant will help town leaders move forward with energy-efficiency upgrades to the Young Municipal Building."

Winner said that the grant is being awarded through the state’s Petroleum Overcharge Restitution (POCR) program and will be administered by the New York Power Authority (NYPA). The POCR funds represent New York’s share of proceeds from court settlements relating to oil company violations of federal price controls in the 1970s and ‘80s.

The Elroy H. Young Municipal Building, constructed approximately three decades ago, houses the Town Hall and all town offices and meeting rooms, and the local United States Post Office.

A NYPA energy audit of the building in March recommended several energy-saving initiatives including heating system upgrades like the installation of programmable thermostats to better manage the heat flow. The audit also suggested the addition of new pipe insulation to improve hot water delivery and identified lighting as a major contributor to energy usage. By replacing standard lighting fixtures with compact fluorescent light fixtures and bulbs the town could significantly reduce energy consumption and cut costs, according to NYPA.