City of Antioch Begins Phase II of Energy Efficient Lighting Retrofit Project

After completing its Phase I Pilot Project, the City of Antioch has begun Phase II of its $4.65 million Building and Street Light Energy Efficient Retrofit Project.  Seven City buildings have already been retrofitted with energy-efficient fluorescent lighting and, beginning this month, work will begin on retrofitting over 8700 High Pressure Sodium (HPS) street, park and public parking lot lights with Induction Lighting.  The project, being managed by Honeywell, is believed to be the biggest project of its type in the country.  In addition to saving taxpayers over $500,000 per year in energy costs and reducing CO2 emissions by over 1800 tons per year, with tax exempt financing the project will pay for itself over a 10-year period, and Honeywell has guaranteed the annual energy savings.  Along with the energy cost savings, maintenance costs will be greatly reduced because induction lamps have an average rated service life of approximately 20 years compared to the current HPS lighting that has an estimated service life of just four years.
The project, utilizing over $600,000 in Department of Energy-American Recovery & Reinvestment Act block grant funds, has not only created job opportunities for local contractors, but will also provide:

• Better quality lighting and increased lighting levels;
• A 20-percent reduction in City greenhouse gas emissions;
• Budget neutral project costs with guaranteed savings and a 10-year financing repayment period; and
• A 10-year guarantee on lighting parts.

The six-month street and park light retrofit work is scheduled to begin in mid-February with completion slated for July 2010.  Installation of the lighting will be occurring simultaneously in southeast and downtown Antioch.  Crews will utilize boom trucks to perform the retrofits and will place barricades in the neighborhoods in which they will be working.  
For more information about Phase II of the Building and Street Light Energy Efficient Retrofit Project, please contact Ken Warren at (925) 779-7035.