Lynn schools to receive new lighting

LYNN – Upgrading to more energy efficient lighting is a priority for mostly every community in the Commonwealth moving forward, and with the help of a National Grid incentive program, cities like Lynn are able to get a head start on the process for a lower cost this summer.National Grid workers are in the process of installing new, more energy efficient lighting in five of the city’s secondary schools this month, a move that is expected to save the city thousands in energy costs in the next five years alone.As part of the Municipal Incentive Program, funded by National Grid customers through a line item on their monthly bill, Lynn Classical High School, Lynn Vocational and Technical Institute, the Fecteau-Leary Junior/ Senior High School and Pickering and Breed middle schools will all receive an upgrade this summer, that along with saving the community money, will improve the visual environment in the classroom.”In this case, what we are doing is taking a look at each room one at a time and look at what is there and what is on the market that is more energy efficient,” said Bill Codner, head of National Grid’s Municipal Energy Efficiency Program. “For example, a room may have an older bulb, like a T-12, that we can replace with something newer and more efficient like a T-8 bulb. To replace the light you have to save a certain amount of watts to justify paying for the new fixture.”The new lights will provide the same light strength, but do so by providing light that is better on the eyes and causes fewer shadows. In addition, new lights will be equipped with sensors that will automatically shut the system off if a room is empty.One area that Codner said is particularly in need of an upgrade is the school gymnasiums, where schools have traditionally used high intensity discharge (HID) lights. HID, or xenon lights, are structured differently than halogen light bulbs and take longer to heat up and brighten when turned on. Codner says this ends up frustrating most who use them, causing lights to be left on when no one is in the room, adding to costs for the school.Through its incentive program, which takes .0025 cents, or one-quarter of a penny for every kilowatt hour used by a customer, National Grid was able to fund $170,000 of the $400,000 program, leaving the city with a cost of $230,000 total for light replacements at five schools.According to Codner, the city should save approximately $73,000 per year with the more efficient bulbs, meaning the project will have paid for itself in just over three years.”The great thing about doing this in a city like Lynn is that there will be opportunities to do this at other municipal buildings too,” said Codner, “like the water treatment planet, where they have a lot of those high powered generators and turbines.”Lynn is expected to continue working with National Grid to complete projects in other schools and city buildings in the coming years, but officials do not have details on other new projects.Aside from its partnership with National Grid, the city is helping reduce energy costs in other schools by using stimulus money to replace boilers.For more information on the municipal incentive program or to get tips for making energy efficient upgrades at home, visit www.thinksmartthinkgreen.org.