The City of Perry achieved far more than just energy savings when they recently teamed up with The Energy Alliance Group of Michigan to upgrade their street lighting technology.
The quaint, historic city had beginnings in the middle 1800’s and has beautifully ornate street light fixtures that are a part of the appeal of the business district. The lights inside those fixtures, however, were outdated and expensive to operate. The resultant light was less than adequate for the purpose it was intended – to add a warm, secure feel to the downtown.
The City was looking for ways to cut their energy expense while at the same time creating an inviting, safe and friendly atmosphere in the downtown area in the evenings. They approached the Energy Alliance Group and learned that not only could the lights be upgraded without replacing the original, ornate fixtures, there was also considerable utility rebates available that would offset the expense of upgrading.
The City officials thought that sounded too good to be true so they went directly to the utility company to confirm the rebates. They were very happy to hear them confirm the funds and that a check would be sent to the City upon completion of the project!
The City initiated the lighting upgrade project and upon completion started getting feedback they never expected to hear. Lighting is considered to be one of the most cost-effective energy- efficiency investments but it is often an investment in people also. The residents of the City appreciated the soft glow of the new lights, the increased brightness of the downtown and especially appreciated that the new lights didn’t require new fixtures. Their iconic streetlights were intact but the resultant light was greatly improved!
The City officials also were also happy to hear that the new light technology could be installed by their own DPW staff which saved them even more money. Here’s a video that highlights the lighting upgrade process:
It is estimated that the new lighting will cost about $6,000 less to operate each year with maintenance time and expense also cut significantly.
To be more specific, here are the projected savings throughout the lifespan of the new technology (estimated to 20 years):
Dollars Saved $131,582
Energy Reduced 867,460 kwh
CO2 Emissions Cut 612 Metric Tons
Trees Offset 15,693
Barrels of Oil Saved 1,423
Rail Cars of Coal Not Burned 2.6
If you would like to learn more about what is considered to be one of the most cost-effective energy efficiency investments – lighting – be sure to contact The Energy Alliance Group. We pride ourselves on “Reducing costs and improving profits through green technologies and services.”
The Energy Alliance Group of Michigan – A comprehensive energy solution company providing energy saving products and services.
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