Laketran is continuing to look for more ways to save taxpayers money by implementing Phase III of its energy conservation program.  With the aid of a federal grant, Laketran is installing 60 skylights in its 151,500 sq. ft. bus garage to complement new high efficiency lighting to reduce its dependence on electricity.

In Phase I, the driver/dispatch areas and parts room were upgraded with new energy reduction lighting in 2006.  In Phase II, occurring in 2013, the maintenance department’s high bay area’s 185 existing 385 watt pendant light fixtures were replaced with (4) bulb high efficiency T-8 fluorescent light fixtures that consume only 95 watts.  This reduced the connected consumption by 75%.  In the other parts of the Laketran’s facility, located in Painesville Township, fixtures with T-12 lamps were retrofitted with a T-8 conversion kit that replaced the ballast and lamp holders.

“Once the skylights are installed in the bus storage area, there should be enough natural light to keep the lights off the majority of the day.  For higher efficiency, the new lights will also be controlled in two ways.  When there is not enough natural lighting, sensors will trigger the lights to come on and a timer will be utilized so that the lights will only be on when necessary for the work hours,” explains Keith Bare, Laketran’s Director of Maintenance.

Phase III is being funded 80 percent ($196,358) by a federal transportation enhancement grant that requires 20% ($49,090) local matching funds for a total cost of $245,448.

“Reducing our energy costs aligns directly with our mission to provide the residents of Lake County with the highest quality of public transportation at the most cost-effective price,” shares Ray Jurkowski, General Manager of Laketran.  “Our Maintenance Department is constantly not only looking for cost efficiencies but other ways to conserve resources and protect the environment by eliminating waste including recycling oils, tires, and paper products was well as recycling water to wash the buses.”