Lighting changes earn Truckee school district rebate check

A partnership with the Truckee Donner Public Utility District paid big dividends for the Tahoe Truckee Unified School District, as the district received $18,736 from the TDPUD at its regular board meeting this week.

The rebate was part of the TDPUD’s Commercial Lighting Rebate Program and the school district’s investment in high-efficiency lighting will save money for years to come.

The school district worked with the TDPUD and contractors in 2010 to define the most cost-effective projects using energy-saving fluorescent and LED lighting. The TDPUD then contributed one-third of the project cost via rebate.

Participating schools included Truckee High, Truckee Elementary and Alder Creek Middle School.

The lighting projects will save the schools an estimated $10,000 per year and offer an approximately five-year simple payback.

The TDPUD has helped local businesses and agencies invest in cost-effective lighting projects by providing more than $80,000 in rebates in the last two years. The lighting program is one of several energy and water savings programs the TDPUD offers its commercial and business customers.