November 9, 2011

Over the next two weeks, the parking lots at the Albemarle County Office Building on McIntire Road will be getting an energy efficiency retrofit as the lot’s 48 metal halide lights are being replaced with LED models.

This project is fully funded through a federal Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant from the U.S. Department of Energy that Albemarle County received as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, which means that Albemarle County did not have to match or contribute any local tax dollars to this project.

The LED lights will be 66 percent more energy efficient than the current lights and last five times longer – 70,000 hours compared to the current 10-15,000 hours – which results in less labor and maintenance costs for Albemarle County. In addition, the quality of light will be more uniform and whiter than the current halide lights and the models are full cutoff, meaning that they do not emit light upwards into the sky.

“We were grateful to receive this grant which has allowed us to implement and manage energy efficiency projects and programs that are beneficial to Albemarle County and the environment,” says Andy Lowe, Environmental Compliance Manager for Albemarle County. “This energy efficiency retrofit program is very much in line with our environmental stewardship values and goals in the County.”

The lights also have an instant on-off feature, meaning that no energy is wasted waiting for the lights to warm up.