Published: October 12, 2009 04:12 pm      

City to use $2.1 million in stimulus funds

Will retrofit traffic signals

City of Indianapolis officials announced last week that they will use $2.1 million in stimulus funds to update traffic signals with energy-efficient LED lights.

So far, the city’s Department of Public Works has replaced 7,593 bulbs at 370 intersections in Marion County. The federal stimulus money allows the remaining city-owned intersections to be retrofitted.

“Retrofitting traffic signals throughout Indianapolis will mean long-term savings in terms of both energy use and taxpayer dollars,” Mayor Greg Ballard said in a press release. “This is a significant step for our city to take as we strive to become a more sustainable community.

“It’s also important for local government to lead by example as we encourage citizens and businesses to adopt more energy efficient practices, and I hope this citywide retrofit project helps raise awareness about the positive gains that can result from doing something as simple as changing a light bulb.”

The plan was presented by the city’s Office of Sustainability and earned approval from the U.S. Department of Energy. The plan designates a portion of the city’s $8 million Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant to update signals at all 730 intersections in Indianapolis.

The cost for retrofitting the signals is $528,879 so far, which includes labor and comes to an average cost of about $1,430 per intersection.

Karen Haley, with the Office of Sustainability, explained, “We save on operations and maintenance since LED lights last so much longer than (regular) bulbs. Hopefully everyone’s as excited as we are. We’re saving money and saving the amount of energy the city uses.”

New signals have produced an estimated savings of 466,071 kilowatt hours of electricity so far. Meters will also be placed at some intersections to monitor both energy and cost savings.

“This money is doing exactly what it’s intended to,” Haley said. “Not this year we wouldn’t have (been able to complete more intersections), so the money is getting this project jump started. We should get the money by the first of the year. Weather permitting, most (installations) will start in spring.”

Haley said the rest of the federal stimulus money would be used for putting more bicycle lanes on city streets, doing more street lighting projects with LED lights, and retrofitting city buildings to make them more energy efficient.

“Some are also going to be putting solar panels on city park buildings,” she said. “It saves the parks departments some money and it is also a great place for people to really see what solar panels are.”

The city’s plan for the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant can be viewed online at www.sustainindy.org.

charlee.beasor@flyergroup.com