CPS Energy, in partnership with the Northside Independent School District (NISD), outlined the completion of a pilot program today that will assist school districts in retrofitting their campuses with energy-efficient lighting.

NISD joined CPS Energy to model how effective energy-efficient lighting can be for school districts and commercial businesses in Greater San Antonio.

"It's important for the district to be a role model for our students and community by being a good steward of resources," NISD Superintendent Dr. John Folks said.  "We are continually seeking to reduce our energy consumption to protect the environment and spend taxpayer dollars wisely."

As part of its commitment to energy efficiency, CPS Energy partnered with NISD to replace 3,693 lights at Marshall High School.  The energy-saving fixtures, ballasts and bulbs improve lighting for students, use less energy and create less heat that the air- conditioning system must overcome. The overall project has cut the school’s annual energy use by 573,271 kilowatt-hours (KWH), or 15 percent.  Clark High School, which also took part in the pilot program, replaced 3,035 lights and reduced its annual energy consumption by similar percentages.

The total cost of the NISD lighting retrofit project is estimated at $143,635, but NISD received more than $95,000 in commercial energy rebates from CPS Energy. 

“This is the first phase of our new commercial energy-efficiency program,” said Kathe Doran, CPS Energy’s manager of energy management.  “This year alone, the installation of high-efficiency lighting has helped us reduce electrical demand by a significant 6 to 7 megawatts (MW), while the average payback for our customers is a relatively short six months to two years.  High-efficiency lighting gives us the biggest bang for our buck, so we want to encourage commercial customers to light their places of business with energy-efficient lighting.”

Bruce Evans, CPS Energy’s director of customer solutions and delivery, said NISD was the ideal candidate to model the high-efficiency lighting program because lighting accounts for a high percentage of school energy use.  He encouraged other school districts to follow NISD’s lead.
“If we can involve other school districts across Greater San Antonio in the next four to five years, we could reduce energy consumption by 60 to 70 MW with lighting retrofits alone,” Evans said. 

CPS Energy's rebate program for commercial and industrial customers provides incentives for the new installation and retrofit of a wide range of equipment that reduces energy demand in non-residential facilities.  These facilities may include schools, shopping centers, office complexes, hotels, industrial facilities and other large energy consumers. Energy-efficiency improvements that are eligible for CPS Energy rebates include lighting retrofits, thermal roof upgrades and enhancements to heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems.