Cleveland schools to get new lighting

CLEVELAND, Tenn. -- The Cleveland city school system soon will be shedding new light on both energy conservation and economics.

The school board agreed Monday to a contract with Excel Energy Group to install an energy-efficient lighting system in all but one of its buildings. The schools will repay loans for the project from savings in the cost for lighting, officials said.

Mayfield Elementary isn't included because it already has the same low-energy lighting system.

Excel has installed new lights in the Bradley and Hamilton County schools districts as well as dozens of others in Tennessee and other states.

BY THE NUMBERS* Cost$848,581: Total project cost$104,068: Tennessee Energy Efficient Schools Initiative grant$81,083: TVA incentive$663,430: Net cost* Financing$312,203: EESI Loan (3 percent for seven years)$351,227: Company financing (4.5 percent for seven years)$663,430: Total financingSource: Excel Energy Group

Scotty Caroon of Excel made the presentation to the board.

"What we are saying is you don't have to come up with any money. We will be using what you are already spending," Mr. Caroon said.

The cost for installing the lighting, disposing of the aging equipment that it replaces and the company's profits all come from those energy cost savings with money left over, Mr. Caroon said. The company's prediction of $14,000 left over is a "conservative" expectation, he said.

According to Excel's figures, the initial cost is $663,430, which will be financed through a state Energy Efficient Schools Initiative loan and from the company. Annual payments would amount to about $108,830, which would come out of the expected $122,838 savings each year on lighting costs.

"Disposal, for us, would be a biggie," said Dr. Rick Denning, director of city schools.

He said the existing lighting system soon will be so obsolete that replacement parts would be hard to find.

The project will take five to six weeks, officials said.

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