NORTON - The heating and ventilation system shared by town hall and the fire station is in critical need of repair, Town Manager James Percell says.

The heating system is "reaching a breaking point now that's taking on the form of an emergency," he said.

Purcell said he intends to address the problem as part of a bigger issue: improving energy efficiency at all town buildings and schools.

Purcell will hire a consultant to help him. He'll fund the help with a more than $7,000 matching grant that Norton is getting from the Renewable Energy Trust's Clean Energy Choice program.

According to its' Web site, the program allows residents to pay a premium for choosing energy from renewable sources. The trust then issues municipalities matching grants. However, the trust will end the program on June 30.

Purcell told selectmen he needs "a hired gun" to "help me navigate" the grant programs available to improve communities' energy efficiency.

The consultant also will help him negotiate with energy suppliers. At least four energy suppliers have expressed interest in serving Norton, Purcell said.

Purcell said he has no timetable for completing his work. He said he may ask selectmen to appoint an ad hoc committee to help him, too.

Guiding the work is an energy audit of all town buildings and the schools, done by a consultant funded by a state Executive Office of Energy Resources grant, Purcell said.

Purcell said addressing the town hall and fire station, which share one building, would be his first priority.

Selectmen Vice Chairman Robert Kimball Jr. said the building "needs a lot of work."

"When you come in here on Saturday morning to get your mail, you can almost freeze ice cream in here," Kimball said.

Earlier this month, an energy conservation consultant recognized school Superintendent Patricia Ansay and the Norton public schools for efforts that have saved them $632,000 over the past 40 months.

Last month, the school committee directed Ansay to start the non-binding application process for a National Grid lighting program. The Project Expediter energy efficiency program could cut the Norton public schools' current yearly electric costs by $85,600, school Facilities Director Angel Doyle has said.

Norton would realize the savings two years after National Grid contractor Energy Conservation finishes retrofitting lights and installing new fixtures, work expected to happen this summer, Energy Conservation President Chris Collins has said.

National Grid would pick up about $173,000, or 51 percent, of the cost, Collins said. The Norton schools would be responsible for the rest, or about $168,000.

However, billing would occur over two years, starting after the work is done - when the new lights begin reducing Norton's monthly electric bill.

Norton would pay off the tab, at 0 percent interest, rather than realize the savings.

MICHAEL GELBWASSER covers Norton for The Sun Chronicle. He can be reached at 508-236-0439 or at mgelbwasser@thesunchronicle.com.