Quick Lighting Upgrades Turn Stimulus Dollars Into Energy Savings
Seattle City Light Rebates Spur Replacement of Old, Inefficient Lighting

SEATTLE - Since its inception in June, a Seattle City Light energy conservation program, partially funded by federal stimulus dollars, has helped 168 businesses replace lighting and signs with energy-efficient equipment. Retrofits for more than 600 businesses are still pending. The cumulative energy savings adds up to more than 8.9 million kilowatt-hours -- enough power to run 971 households for a year.

"We're using federal stimulus funds to create jobs and promote energy efficiency measures that will benefit our community for years to come," said Mayor Greg Nickels. "We're providing real results that will benefit all businesses and improve our local economy."

The Quick Lighting Upgrade Initiative provides rebates of up to 100 percent for the replacement of old, inefficient T12 fluorescent lighting, incandescent exit signs and incandescent bulbs with T8 fluorescent lighting, LED exit signs and compact fluorescent bulbs.

City Light is using $750,000 in federal stimulus package money. An additional $2 million from City Light will be used for enhanced lighting upgrade incentives.

"Without the Quick Lighting incentives, many of these businesses would have continued to use their old, wasteful lighting and City Light would face greater pressure to buy additional power," City Light Superintendent Jorge Carrasco said. "Helping them install modern, efficient lighting is a cost-effective way to secure energy resources for other needs in our growing community and keep rates low for all our customers."

To track the city of Seattle's progress as it seeks federal stimulus funds, visit recovery.seattle.gov. This site provides information about the projects for which Seattle is seeking funding, and, if funding is granted, how the money is being spent. Seattle is seeking stimulus funding for projects in the following categories: community development, economic development, energy, environment, public safety, social services and transportation.

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Office of the Mayor