With the pressure on budgets everywhere, DNR is always looking for ways to save money, especially if it can help lower energy use. That’s why DNR’s Engineering Facilities Section is upgrading all of the lighting at the department’s aircraft hangar in Olympia, where DNR mechanics maintain and repair helicopters for the department’s wildland fire protection program.
All of the interior lights in the hanger are being retrofitted with high efficiency-low wattage lamps and ballasts. The result will be better lighting for the workers and reduced energy use. In addition, the exterior lighting will be replaced with new LED lights. All of the work will be completed by qualified DNR Engineering Facilities Section employees.
Here’s where the money savings comes in. The total cost of the new lighting is $5,543, but DNR will be eligible for a rebate of $3,831 from the utility company, for a total materials cost of just $1,712 after the rebate. The estimated annual energy savings from the lighting retrofit is 22,277 kilowatt hours (kWh), or $2,272 per year in savings. The payback period before rebate is 2.5 years, but with the rebate it’s less than a year to break even on the materials (the cost and savings calculation does not include labor).
We will also replace an inefficient heater at the hanger with a high efficiency model and replace the old hangar door with an insulated energy-tight door. With these upgrades DNR’s hangar will be a substantially more efficient building, further reducing DNR’s carbon footprint. This is just one example of the energy reduction projects DNR completes each year at its facilities.
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EAR TO THE GROUND WITH DNR & COMMISSIONER FRANZ 