Grant to fund energy upgrades at four Sound Transit stations
The Sound Transit stations in Federal Way, Auburn and Kent will soon shine a little brighter, thanks to a $400,000 energy efficiency grant that will go toward upgrading lighting at the centers.

The Washington State Department of Commerce has awarded Sound Transit $400,000 for improvements. The upgrades are estimated to save $80,000 a year in utility and operations costs, and allow the agency to leverage an additional $175,000 in utility rebates.

“Sound Transit would like to thank the State Department of Commerce for supporting our commitment to conserve natural resources by saving energy – a key target in our sustainability program,” says Sound Transit CEO Joni Earl. “This Energy Efficiency grant will enable the agency to maximize available tax revenues by making needed improvements that will help realize energy and operational cost savings.”

With the funds, Sound Transit plans to replace incandescent, fluorescent and high-intensity-discharge lighting fixtures with energy-efficient light-emitting-diode fixtures. Heating, cooling and plumbing systems at Union Station in downtown Seattle will also be upgraded.

Sound Transit is one of twenty agencies in Washington State to receive the first round of 2012 state Energy Efficiency grants. Projects were selected from 36 grant applications requesting a total of more than $14 million, according to Sound Transit.

Submitted by Jill Blocker, KOMO Communities Reporter
Tuesday, August 14th, 2012, 10:28am