Bright Lights Save Money for Richland Taxpayers

When Jerry Reichert flips on a light switch in Richland's public works garage, it is more than an illuminating experience.

It also is a money-saving experience for the taxpayers of Richland Township.

The 16,000-square-foot building recently was retrofitted for energy-efficient lighting and programmable thermostats. The garage, which is located behind the on Dickey Road, houses the township's trucks, snow plows and other equipment.

Reichart, the assistant manager and public works superintendent for Richland Township, said the new lighting is brighter -- and cheaper -- than the previous lights.

It was installed through an Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant allocated by Allegheny County. Energy auditors from Applied Energy Management are working in more than 70 municipalities in Allegheny County to survey buildings and recommend energy-efficient measures for lighting.

All told, the project cost $33,083, but Richland Township only had to pay $14,625. The rest was covered by the $16,541 block grant and a $1,917 energy service provider rebate, according to Township Manager Dean E.Bastianini.

Sargent Electric Co. was contracted to do the work.

The changes in Richland are expected to translate to a savings of about 30 percent for the building's electric bill.

Bastianini said that will save taxpayers about $120 to $150 a month. He said that is a conservative estimate; the township will track future bills to calculate the exact savings.

Reichart said about 30 fixtures were replaced along with the ballasts in another 30 fixtures, to make them more energy efficient. A dozen reflectors were changed in light fixtures to produce more light, he said.

Also, three programmable thermostats and 12 light sensors were installed in the building.

The lighting retrofit cost $28,999 and the programmable thermostats retrofit, $4,084, Bastianini said.

Scrap metal from many of the old fixtures will be recycled, Reichart said, and hazardous waste from the light project will be disposed of properly.

Although the building is only 10 years old, lighting fixtures are much more energy efficienct now, he added.

"The lighting is amazing to me just how much brighter it is," Reichart said. "I think (the retrofitting project) is a great idea -- anything we can do to help ourselves be more energy efficient."