New energy-saving equipment at the Allegheny County Jail and the four Kane nursing homes should save $2 million annually in utility costs, county Executive Dan Onorato announced Tuesday.

The new lighting, motion sensors, air-conditioning chillers and boilers will cost $14.2 million and will be paid for with federal stimulus dollars.

In addition to the savings on electricity, steam, natural gas and water usage, the county should reduce its annual greenhouse gas emissions by 4.6 million pounds of carbon dioxide, 188 pounds of nitrogen oxides and 1,411 pounds of sulfur oxides, officials estimate.

The county will enter into a guaranteed savings contract with its energy consultant, Noresco, which says that if the planned improvements do not achieve the estimated $2 million in savings, the Massachusetts-based consultant will pay the county the difference.

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