Lighting Cuts Energy Use For Macomb County
Continuing its commitment to energy saving and efficiency, Macomb County has replaced 180 high-intensity discharge lighting fixtures at its warehouse on Hall Road with energy-efficient fixtures produced by Michigan-based Alumalight.
In addition to lower-use fixtures, occupancy sensors were installed to turn the lights off when the area is not in use.
The lighting upgrade at the warehouse will reduce the energy usage and cost of the space by an estimated 49 percent, and saving more than $9,000 per-year in energy costs. The upgrade was funded in part by a $14,000 rebate from DTE.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency's greenhouse gas equivalencies calculator, the estimated annual energy savings from the change comes to more than 66,000 kilowatt-hours. This is equivalent to nearly 115,000 pounds of Carbon Dioxide removed
from the atmosphere, 10 cars taken off the road, or more than 1100 trees planted.
Buying local also helped reduce the carbon footprint associated with the task, and contribute to the local economy -- the housings of the patented fixture are stamped for Alumalight in Macomb County by Ultraform Industries of Romeo.
In addition to various energy savings through lighting, the county's Facilities & Operations Department has also installed water-saving devices in county buildings, motion-sensor-controlled lights in low use areas county-wide, and has increased its recycling efforts.
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