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Romeo board hears LED retrofit plan for wastewater plant promising 70% lighting savings
Summary
An energy audit presented to the Village of Romeo estimated a 70% reduction in lighting energy use at the wastewater treatment plant, with an annual savings of about $3,550, a turnkey price of roughly $26,895 and an estimated 39-month payback after rebates; trustees asked for additional vendor comparisons and more precise fixture counts before voting.
Dave Lux, founder of Deluxe Energy, told the Village of Romeo Board of Trustees on June 16 that an LED lighting retrofit at the village wastewater treatment plant could cut lighting energy use about 70%, producing roughly $3,548.77 in annual energy savings.
Lux said his team conducted a room-by-room audit, including tunnels and exterior fixtures, and estimated the plant now spends about $5,083 per year to power lighting. After installing commercial-grade LED fixtures certified under the DesignLights Consortium and applying current DTE rebates, he estimated annual lighting costs would fall to about $1,500. Lux quoted a turnkey project price of $26,894.85 and, after an estimated rebate payout, an effective project cost of $22,362.83.
The presenter outlined financing options available through DTE's program, including 0% interest loans spread over 36 months. Using the village's projected monthly savings of roughly $560, Lux said the village would recover the net project cost in about 39 months and thereafter keep the monthly savings. He also described equipment warranties (commercial-grade products with five-year manufacturer coverage and a 90-day labor warranty from his company).
Trustees asked technical and accounting questions about the audit's inputs, including fixture counts and assumed hours of operation for tunnels and other low-use spaces. Lux acknowledged some room-by-room fixture details were in supplemental sheets not included in the packet and said the run-time assumptions came from plant staff who provided the tour.
Council members requested that staff solicit at least one or two additional comparable energy assessment proposals through DTE's list of vendors so the village could compare scope, line-item counts and firm quotes before approving a contract. Trustees also asked staff to confirm rebate and financing timelines and to clarify which fixtures would be replaced with retrofits versus new fixtures for outdoor areas.
The board did not take a vote on the retrofit at the June 16 meeting; staff said the item will be discussed again under the agenda and that the presenter would not be required to remain for the full meeting. The village directed staff to return with additional vendor comparisons and more detailed fixture and hours-per-week documentation to support a procurement decision.
If the board proceeds, the proposal would be paid up-front to the contractor and later offset by DTE rebate checks Lux said are typically mailed two to four weeks after project completion; trustees asked staff to verify whether the rebate vendor process or payment timing affects the village's net cash flow or financing choice.
