Residents in Perry, Michigan are appreciating a brighter downtown thanks to new lighting provided through the Energy Alliance Group in Michigan and American Green Technology.
City leaders are enjoying lower utility bills and easier maintenance, as it’s estimated the new lighting will cost about $6,000 less to operate each year, with maintenance time and expense also cut significantly.
Perry first began working with EAG to save money on its purchase of natural gas. Then they considered new exterior lighting and ultimately purchased 74 new lights, with most installed on already-existing poles.
Perry chose to install induction lighting manufactured by American Green Technology. This 100-year-old lighting technology, which uses an electromagnetic field and an inert gas to create light, is similar in design to fluorescent lighting technology but without a filament, which results in a lamp of unmatched life. Induction lamps typically last 100,000 hours or up to 25 years of service.
Here is the text of a letter, written by Chuck Mudge, Perry’s Superintendent of Public Works:
The City’s first initial inquiry for savings was looking at reducing natural gas costs. After researching the options, the City chose to use an alternate supplier for natural gas. The company Volunteer Energy was chosen and has proven since 2011 to stay competitive and under Consumer Energy costs of natural gas.
The City continued to look at other options to save on costs to the tax payers and through Volunteer Energy; we were suggested to consider induction lighting and met with Energy Alliance Group. These meetings began in May of 2012 with Mayor and City Staff.
After researching all options, presentations were made in front of Councilmembers and they agreed to proceed with the induction lighting for the City of Perry. Energy Alliance worked very hard to meet the cost saving goals for this project. For example, there was an estimated Consumers Energy Incentive Refund that came back to the City 10% higher. They also allowed the Department of Public Works do the installation of the induction lighting which saved on the initial sale.
The City Department of Public Works found that Energy Alliance was easy to work with. The savings of the induction lighting shall pay for itself. I would recommend other municipalities to consider induction lighting.
Click here to see Perry Recommendation Letter 2014.
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