March 30, 2006
Contact: Sue Baker
For Immediate Release
WARWICK— Mayor Scott Avedisian said today that the city’s decision to install new, energy efficient lights in various municipal buildings will save the city nearly $34,000 a year in electrical and maintenance costs.
The City Hall Annex, several fire stations, the Department of Public Works, Water Department, and Pilgrim Senior Center were equipped with the lighting several years ago. Last fall, Avedisian authorized the Department of Public Works and its Maintenance Division to move forward with installing the new lighting in other municipal buildings in partnership with National Grid. Crews have recently completed installation in the police station and City Hall. By mid-April, the equipment will be installed in the Thayer and Warburton ice rinks and McDermott Pool.
Total cost of the project was $135,396, offset by a National Grid participation incentive that totaled $31,287. Net cost to the city was $104,109.
“These new lights are more energy efficient, brighter and will last considerably longer than those we were previously using, which will save on maintenance costs,” Avedisian said. “And, when you consider that the entire project will be paid for in three years with these annual savings, it made perfect sense to switch over. There is also potential that our savings will increase over time, depending on the cost of electricity.”
This is the latest of a series of cost-saving measures Avedisian has implemented or approved in recent months. Continual phase-in of the automated trash system has reduced workers’ compensation costs and decreased tipping fees at the landfill; a restructuring of one of the Parks and Recreation Department’s divisions as a new subdivision of DPW has realized overtime savings since the change was implemented last July; the Municipal Retirement Board’s decision to participate in a commission recapture program has saved the city more than $36,000 in two years; and transformation of an old recycling truck into a sander saved the city over $50,000.