In 2007 the City launched an energy conservation initiative that we call 20-40-15. The goal of the initiative is to increase the energy efficiency of the City’s buildings by 20%; of our vehicle fleet by 40%; and complete both goals by 2015. 20. 40. 15.
We launched the first phase of the 20-40-15 initiative earlier this year. One of the projects in the first phase of 20-40-15 is underway right now. All of the City’s fluorescent ceiling lights are being changed from 34-watt to 28-watt bulbs. It may not sound like a big change, but we expect to save a lot of money on energy consumption with no noticeable change in lighting levels. And, to complete the cycle of life of a fluorescent bulb, every bulb removed will be recycled through retrofit and disposed of properly following the strictest guidelines set by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.
The light bulb change out is a big project. We’ve got a lot of three-lamp ceiling fixtures just in our buildings. I checked out the new lighting in Rink 1 at the Community Center. The lights look great! There are more projects to come, including the introduction of the phase 2 projects to the City Council in October.
