HCPSSHCPSS Receives Grant to Improve Outdoor Lighting Efficiency
September 1st, 2022
The Howard County Public School System has been awarded nearly $60,000 through a new grant from the Maryland Energy Administration’s (MEA’s) Streetlight and Outdoor Lighting Efficiency (SOLE) Pilot program. The grant will be used to replace 155 exterior pole-mounted lighting fixtures with higher-efficiency LED lighting at four HCPSS schools (Long Reach and Reservoir high schools, and Fulton and Thunder Hill elementary schools). More schools may be added after annual site assessments are completed.
By transitioning to higher efficiency lighting, HCPSS anticipates decreased maintenance and materials costs and more consistent lighting on streets, parking lots, parks, athletic fields and other outdoor lighting systems on school grounds.
Per Howard County Board of Education Policy 6080 Sustainability, “HCPSS is committed to being an environmentally, economically, and socially sustainable organization.” To that point, HCPSS has a total of 50 schools participating in the Maryland Green Schools program. In spring 2022, one school was newly certified and 11 HCPSS schools were recertified as Maryland Green Schools, and one school was recertified at the new Sustainable Bronze level with 20 years of sustainable school engagement. HCPSS also has several schools that have achieved Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification. In addition, HCPSS has received grant funding for two electric school buses and lower-emission diesel work trucks.
The SOLE Pilot Program provides grant funding to defray the cost of replacing outdated, lower-efficiency pole-mounted fixtures used for street lighting, parking lot illumination, parks, athletic fields and other outdoor lighting systems, along with implementing certain lighting controls.