Norwich — Norwich Public Utilities presented William W. Backus Hospital officials with a $46,635 rebate check Monday following the hospital's completion of an energy efficiency upgrade.

The presentation was made during a brief ceremony.

Backus, part of the Hartford HealthCare system, stands to save an estimated $88,017 in annual energy costs, according to NPU.

“Backus Hospital is an essential part of our community and they clearly understand that investing in energy efficiency will pay dividends for years to come,” said Chris LaRose, NPU’s acting general manager. “We’ve worked with the outstanding team at Backus on a number of projects over the years and look forward to partnering with them again in the future.”

In late 2018, Backus evaluated the performance of its heating system, and determined that insulating pipes, valves and fittings throughout the hospital would make a significant difference. By reducing heat loss and directing more energy toward the intended point of use, Backus achieved greater efficiency.

Over the past two years, Backus has undertaken a campus-wide LED lighting upgrade, earning a $22,000 rebate from NPU and resulting in estimated annual energy savings of $21,300.