VALPARAISO | The city is willing to consider installing solar panels on the City Hall roof to reduce energy costs and make the building an educational tool for energy conservation.

Mayor Jon Costas met with members of the city's Energy Commission on Monday to talk about the results of an energy audit of the building done by the Munster consulting firm of R.L. Millies & Associates. Millies said the building already exceeds the recommended standard for energy efficiency established by the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers.

The consultants said additional energy savings could be found by installing more energy-efficient windows, adding a heat pump to the heating, ventilating and air conditioning system, installing improved HVAC controls and possibly adding carbon monoxide sensors to detect when people are in the room could provide additional savings. Savings could be as much as 11 or 12 percent for some of the changes.

Solar panels would cost about $50,000 and result in only about a 1 percent savings, but Costas said the city has money set aside to make improvements on the roof next year, which could be a good time to consider doing something like the solar panels rather than just looking at improvements that would bring the fastest payback.

"While we should go for the low-hanging fruit initially, we also should make sure we are making progress in the long term," he said. "We do want to do things that make sense but will set an example, too. We are going to be here in this building for a long time."

Resident Michael Barrett said nobody wants to make the change to something like solar panels because of the long payback time on the investment. He said it might take 15 or 20 years, but after that the energy is free and the panels need no maintenance. Barrett said educating the staff to be more energy efficient could provide a big return for little or no expense.

Even if the panels don't provide enough energy for the whole building -- Millies estimated they might provide enough for the first floor -- it would be symbolic and would be something the city could point to for children touring the building. Energy monitors, which constantly show energy consumption, and the estimated annual cost are something else the city might consider.

Costas asked the commission to come up with a list of suggestions and prioritize them.

"Sometimes the biggest challenge is coming up with ideas," Costas said. "That's what I want this commission to do."

Commission Co-chairman Jeff Lewis said the heat pump might be cost prohibitive and would be better suited to new construction. Commission member Walt Breitinger suggested the city allow people to use clotheslines instead of electric dryers. Costas said there is no law preventing it, although some subdivision covenants ban it, and the city has no power over those.

Member Ann Kenis said the city should join the annual Earth Hour activities in March, when everyone is asked to turn off all their lights. She said the city should try to get restaurants involved by having candlelit meals. Lewis and Costs said that will be looked into.