The Chattanooga Area Regional Transportation Authority (CARTA) is saving energy and reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by converting to energy-efficient lighting at several of its facilities.

With $650,000 from the TIGGER Program, CARTA is replacing the fluorescent lights in 1,724 existing fixtures with new high-efficiency LED lights manufactured by Ohio-based LSI Industries. Lawson Electric Company, a local business, is installing the lights. This project will reduce the electrical energy use at seven operating areas within CARTA’s facilities, including parking garages associated with CARTA’s downtown shuttle service and the bus barn and shop, service lane, steam room, and maintenance shop located at CARTA headquarters.

LED lighting is a widely-used, proven technology that will directly reduce CARTA’s utility bills. The new LED lights consume 61% less energy than the old fluorescent lights. Additionally, the LED lighting is cooler than the old lighting, which means the facilities will use less energy for summer cooling.

By converting to high-efficiency LED lighting at its facilities, CARTA will reduce its annual electricity consumption by 1.3 million kWh and save $120,000 per year. The LED  lighting has a useful life of about 18 years, and CARTA will achieve payback on the initial capital investment in just over 5 years.