Acuity Brands Lighting
Since adopting a greenhouse gas emission reduction policy in 201…
Tapping into resources
Although the numbers made sense, Slade’s department needed help implementing a plan. “We didn’t have the time or resources to find contractors or apply for grants,” says Drew Woodruff, West Richland city engineer and the project’s leader.
As a pre-approved energy service company for the Washington State Department of Enterprise Services, Ameresco was qualified to coordinate and implement the city’s streetlight conversion. “Our state has a great program that makes it easier for municipalities to undertake large-scale projects,” says Slade. “They do the legwork upfront, vetting agencies, and work directly with the energy service companies throughout the process.”
Based on interviews with Slade and Woodruff, Ameresco evaluated contractors and lighting manufacturers and investigated financing options. The project qualified for several grants, energy credits, and incentives, and a low-interest loan that helped offset its million-dollar price tag (see sidebar on page 36).
“Ameresco helped secure the funding that made it possible for a city of our size to take on a project like this,” says Woodruff. The company also offered a not-to-exceed cost and energy savings guarantee.
Next page: Maximizing the investment
