City receives state grant for LED lighting project in parking ramps

The City of Iowa City's plan to upgrade lighting systems in its public parking ramps has gotten thumbs-up approval from the State of Iowa Office of Energy Independence, which has awarded the City approximately $419,000 to help pay for part of the project. The grant will be used to replace older lighting fixtures with more energy-efficient LED lighting in two City-owned ramps. LED lights last twice as long, require less maintenance, and use less electricity.

The City has already completed installation of LED lighting in the Court Street Transportation Center ramp. Next, the lighting in four additional ramps -- Capitol Street, Dubuque Street, Chauncey Swan, and Tower Place -- will be replaced with LED technology. A new parking facility that is planned as part of a new multi-purpose building to be constructed on the old St. Patrick's School site will also feature LED lighting.

The projects are part of a City-wide effort to invest in and implement green, sustainable practices which often also provide substantial cost savings. The City also hopes to encourage local businesses and residents to follow suit by investing in new, environmentally friendly technology.

Cost of the total lighting project is $1,257,000, with an estimated $419,000 coming from the grant. In addition, the City anticipates receiving rebates from MidAmerican Energy Company for energy conservation improvements, although the amount of the rebate cannot be calculated until the projects are completed.

Kristopher Ackerson, Assistant Transportation Planner with the Johnson County Council of Governments, estimates that the cost savings from the new lights will be so significant that the City will recoup the balance of the cost of the projects in just four years. After that, the City will continue to save money on electricity bills with the LED lighting technology.

The grant is part of approximately $40.5 million that is being allocated for projects across Iowa to help create an economically viable and environmentally sound energy future by reducing per capita energy consumption by at least 25% by the year 2012. Funds were made available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

For more information, contact Kristopher Ackerson at 356.5247 or e-mail
kristopher-ackerson@iowa-city.org.

Editor's Note:  Why does the city even own parking ramps?  Seriously, this should be a private enterprise endeavor, not city government abuse of hard-earned taxpayer dollars.  You're paying for government management (inept), employees, equipment, no desire to be fiscally sound, no competitive element, you're paying for the benefits of city employees which includes health care.  Sorry, but government is not supposed to pretend it's a business.