In order to decrease energy usage and utility costs over the past few years, the City of Fairmont (population 10,589) has been gradually replacing much of the lighting in their public facilities. When they received an email advertising the Energy Efficiency Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) opportunity, the city decided to apply for funding to revamp their municipal buildings’ energy-deficient windows and lighting.
Fairmont utilized the EECBG funds to replace 18 windows in City Hall and to replace a total of 490 T-12 light fixtures with T-8 light fixtures in three city facilities: City Hall, Municipal Airport, and the Street and Park Department. The numbers 8 and 12 in the names of the lights refer to the diameter size of a fluorescent tube. The smaller the number is, the smaller the width of the fluorescent tube and, more importantly, the greater the energy efficiency of the light.
The total cost of the project was $50,224—the EECBG grant funded $25,115, and the city matched it with $25,109, while the utilities provided rebates in the amount of $7,500 to offset a share of the city’s expenses. The project payback period on the city’s investment is estimated at fewer than three years, with an estimated annual reduction of 40,000 kWh (just from the electrical upgrades and an estimated annual savings of $6,000.
In addition to the savings, the project also supported local jobs. Troy Nemmers, Fairmont Public Works Director, recommended that some of the work be done in-house. There were three city staff and a local contractor with three employees who worked on the project. The lighting was purchased from a distributor in Fairmont and the local contractor manufactured the windows for City Hall. It is local commerce like this that the EECBG funds are meant to encourage, as well as providing local professionals with work. In addition, in order to qualify for EECBG funds, projects must not only work toward energy efficiency and conservation; they must also exclusively use US-made building materials.
Based on its past success, the City of Fairmont continues to incorporate lighting upgrades in its community buildings. The city has recently purchased another building to house the Line Department, where such lighting upgrades are now being completed.
In addition, eight streetlights were retrofitted with LEDs on Center Creek Drive located just off Highway 15 on the north end of the City. LED roadway lighting was also installed. While there is no meter to determine energy savings on the retrofits, Nemmers noted, “They are working great!” If you are in the Fairmont area, come by and see!
Project Snapshot
Upgrades made: replaced 490 T-12 light fixtures with T-8 light fixtures; replaced 18 windows
- EECBG Funding: $25,115
- City Funding: $25,109
- Total Project Cost: $50,224
Other Local Government Energy Action Lighting Stories:
- Local Government Lighting Retrofits: Inspiring Over 25,000 Efficient Bulb Upgrades in MN
- Slick Retrofits Light Up the Riverside Ice Arena in Austin, MN
- Building consolidation and upgrades save energy and money in the City of Spicer
- Cottage Grove sheds some light on its recent sustainability initiatives
- Oak Park Heights sees the light: Leading the way with LEDs and solar PV
- Under control: lighting and controls upgrades at New London-Spicer High School
About the Local Government Energy Action Series:
This year-long effort tells the stories of nearly 50 Minnesota municipalities, counties, and schools and the tangible results of their energy-saving efforts to inspire others to take their own actions.
Local Government Energy Action is brought to you by the Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs) in partnership with the Minnesota Department of Commerce, Division of Energy Resources.
