Incentives for public facilities to switch lights

Schools, state offices and other public facilities around Illinois can get money if they participate in a program to install energy efficient lighting.

In a news release, the state’s Department of Commerce says facilities can receive grants or rebates if they upgrade to more energy efficient lighting before they’re required to do so next year when the older, less efficient florescent lamps are phased out of production. They will also save money because as the less efficient lamps are phased out of production, the price of the remaining ones will go up as the supply shrinks.

Officials say that besides the financial incentives, making the switch to the more efficient lighting will result in energy savings of as much as 50 percent.