Courtesy Photo of Patricia De Naranjo and Amanda Terán

The Grant County/Silver City Joint Office of Sustainability has just finished a lighting upgrade project for four city buildings which will save the city an estimated $9,766 a year in electrical costs. While Fluorescent lighting is known to be energy efficient lighting, technology is always making good things better, and lighting is no exception. Newer electronic ballasts improve efficiency over the old magnetic styles, and better coatings in the tubes and better reflectors all add up to a reduction of energy from 20 to 45%, depending on the fixture and lamp design

Energy Efficiency, Renewable Energy Specialist, Mike Sauber of the Joint Office of Sustainability said "We have compiled energy and water use data for City and County buildings, and are using that data to find the most effective use of funds to lower energy use, save the municipalities money and reduce our carbon footprint." With that data in hand, the Police Department, City hall, City Annex and the Museum were chosen for their highest use and quickest return on the investment.

Original quotes for the project came in at twice what was expected due to the increase in cost of the phosphor coating inside the high efficiency bulbs (phosphor is a finite material with limited worldwide supply), so more research was done and the PNM small business "Quick Saver Program" was utilized. Using a PNM pre-approved contractor to do the retrofits, the program paid a higher percentage of the costs, and the Town was able to do all 4 buildings, rather than having to scale back the project.

With a $24,079 cost for the lighting project and yearly savings of $9,766 the project should be paid for in a short 2.5 year period.

As well as saving money and reducing electrical use, the new lighting doesn't have the "flicker" of the old bulbs, has better color rendition, and typically improves worker performance due to the better quality of light.

Amanda Teran, who works in the accounting department at City Hall, was pleased with the new lights. "It's easier to see and do my work now, and it's great that the Town is saving money too."

Sustainability employee Sauber added that "Any business that has older lighting or refrigeration units should look into PNM's small business rebate program if they plan on doing any upgrades. They might end up saving a lot of money." He can be contacted @ (575) 654-3906