BCFPD Secures Grant Funding, Upgrades Lake Barrington Fire Station

The Barrington Countryside Fire Protection District (BCFPD) secured nearly $11,000 in grant funding to replace the exterior lighting at its Lake

Energy-efficent lamps installed at the District’s Fire Station #3,  22222 N. Pepper Road, will save nearly $3,000 in annual electricity expenses.

The $15,136 project to install new light-emitting diode (LED) lamps around the building and surrounding parking areas was offset by $10,850 in grant funding from the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity’s Public Sector Energy Efficiency program. That funding reduced the BCFPD’s installation costs by 82 percent, to $4,286.

Based on annual projections, the new lights will also reduce the building’s annual electricity usage from 37,224 kilowatt hours (kWh) to just 8,759 kWh, saving the District roughly $2,846 per year.

District officials anticipate the project will pay for itself in just 18 months because LEDs last longer than incandescent lights, consume less electricity and are less expensive to maintain.

BCFPD President Tom Rowan says the upgrade to LEDs – and the Board’s pursuit of grant funding to cover their installation – reflect the District’s commitment to reduce costs and improve efficiencies on behalf of the residents it serves.

“We are constantly searching for ways to lower costs for taxpayers who fund District operations,” Rowan said. “Upgrading to LED lighting at Station #3 makes perfect sense from an operational standpoint, but it is also good for the environment because they use far less energy.”

Submitted by BCFPD