Thanks, I thought I read the entire article, but somehow missed that.

Probably, since the guy who suggested it was brought there specifically for that reason.

Meaning it could be the creative frugal solution for which they were hired, or that it was a good faith attempt towards same, or (in some analogous business situations, I'd guess not in this one) there's incentive to do appear to be doing something.

There was also PR value, including the appearance of being frugal, if there was grumbling about cost of the facility.