A year since the improvements, the Athenian Corner's owner, Ted Panagiotopoulos, is extremely pleased to find that his restaurant has reduced its total energy use by 41%, far exceeding the 30% savings projected by the original audit. "As much as we enjoy now being environmentally conscious and doing our part to save the planet, let's just say, paying a low energy bill for the prime air conditioning period of July and August is the best part for us," he said. Overall, the restaurant is expected to save $6,200 on its gas bill and $500 on its electric bill. Lowell plans to become the first Carbon Neutral Historic District in the country, and projects like the Athenian Corner are the foundation for the city's neighborhood-scale energy efficiency program.