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District outlines $8.4 million LED lighting project with six-year payback, requests up to $4 million this year
Summary
Engineering presented a districtwide LED lighting replacement program (two scope options: bulb retrofit ~$8.4M or full fixture replacement ~$14M). Staff asked the board to appropriate up to $4 million this fiscal year to begin work; estimated annual energy savings exceed $1 million with a six- to twelve-year payback depending on scope.
Rutherford County Schools’ engineering and construction staff presented a districtwide LED lighting plan that they said would reduce annual energy costs by about $1 million and pay back the investment in roughly six years under a bulb-replacement scenario.
Staff showed two options: (1) a bulb-and-lens retrofit across campuses with an estimated gross cost presented near $8.4 million and an estimated TVA incentive of about $768,000, producing a roughly six-year payback; and (2) a full fixture replacement estimated near $14 million with an approximately 12-year payback. Staff said the net cost will vary by scope and that a “sweet spot” between the two options could balance function, aesthetics and cost.
Engineering requested authorization to appropriate up to $4 million from the district’s fund (staff cited fund $1.77) this fiscal year to begin work with Excel Lighting. Staff noted TVA/utility incentives will offset part of the cost and said projects will roll over multiple years; they asked the board for flexibility to prioritize campuses in early phases and to return with refined numbers later in the year.
Board members discussed prioritization of older schools and constraints such as airport flight-path lighting standards at some campuses. Staff said some external sports lighting already qualified for incentives and that the district had already received partial incentives for those fields. No final appropriation vote was recorded in the work session; staff requested board authorization to proceed up to the $4 million figure and return later with detailed scope and scheduling for remaining phases.
