Brighter lighting, big savings ahead for highway department & county government

Ameren's Act on Energy program will pay big dividends with respect to the county's utility budget in the coming months.

Both the Perry County government building and the highway department in the coming weeks will get new interior, parking lot and maintenance building lighting.

The up-front cost for the government building will be $16,376. After the Ameren rebate of $11,136 in partnership with the Illinois Office of Economic Development the total cost will be $5,240. The county will recover all of that amount in about eight months with the savings.

The parking lot lights will be changed to LED lighting at a cost of $6,625 with the county's end cost being only $308.

County highway engineer Brian Otten said the cost of changing the lighting in his offices and maintenance shop will be $11,245 with a rebate of $9,012 for a total cost of only $2,233.

Offices will get new fixtures and the new energy-efficient F-8 fluorescent bulbs, much brighter and more cost efficient than the old T-12 bulbs, which are being phased out.

The work is being performed by A & D Electrical Supply out of Litchfield, Ill.

A construction trailer is already sitting on the parking lot at the government building as the contractor is ready to begin the work.