Mountain Village: Relight the Town

10 Jul Mountain Village: Relight the Town

Mountain Village wants to relight the town with LED bulbs. Participating residents & business owners can realize significant savings.

This summer it’s lights out on the traditional light bulb for the Rocky Mountain town of Mountain Village.

Mountain Village recently announced it is offering residents and business owners the opportunity to save money and energy by switching from inefficient light bulbs to new light-emitting diode technology (LEDs). In partnership with San Miguel Power Association (SMPA) and Cooperative Business Lighting Partners, the program, Relight Mountain Village, provides instant rebates and exclusive offers to those who purchase LED bulbs at greenlivingtown.com. The online order period began in late June and will run until midnight July 24. Compared to big box store prices, program participants can expect to save up to 75 percent for each LED bulb they purchase.

“Ski resorts are especially vulnerable to the effects of climate change, so Mountain Village is doing its part to reduce greenhouse gas emissions produced by the community,” stated Environmental Services Director Deanna Drew. “Something as small and seemingly insignificant as switching out inefficient light bulbs in your home or business can make a big difference and even a bigger difference when an entire town makes the change together. By offering LEDs at a significantly lower price-point and with the added convenience of instant rebates and online ordering, we hope that people decide to take action and reduce their energy use now.”

Along the same line of reducing energy and in an effort to reduce waste, bulbs will be delivered in bulk and available for pickup at Town Hall Plaza in August. Customers will be contacted via email regarding the specific date and time for this pickup event.

As for program rules, participants are limited to 50 common LEDs 300 lumens or greater. This limitation ensures that everyone has the opportunity to change the environmental landscape and their monthly electricity bill for the better. Other types of bulbs such as tube lighting and bulbs less than 300 lumens have different rebate guidelines and amounts, which will be automatically calculated during the online ordering process.

Once LED bulbs are installed Drew suggests placing any unwanted incandescent light bulbs in the trash, but warns that fluorescent tubes and compact florescent bulbs contain mercury, a hazardous material that must be properly recycled or disposed of according to San Miguel County guidelines.

For more details, visit lamptracker.com. One can also sell or donate their old bulbs and fixtures that still work.

CHANGING LANDSCAPE

Over the past few years the cost of LEDs has been steadily dropping while making immense gains in energy efficiency. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, lighting accounts for about 10 percent of a home’s electricity use. Since LEDs typically use 75- to 80-percent less energy than the traditional varieties, upgrading one’s lighting source is a step in the right direction, and most of the newer bulbs sold in the U.S. have longer life spans – more than 20 years – so a continual savings is realized well into the future. Moreover, the Environmental Protection Agency estimates that there are three billion incandescent bulbs currently in use. In other words, American households could collectively save $6 billion on energy costs in 2015 alone by making the switch to more energy-efficient lighting.

“Results of switching to an energy-efficient light source like an LED are promising,” said SMPA Accounts Executive Ken Haynes. “For instance, if you were to replace 50 60-watt bulbs in your home that run an average of three hours each day, you have the opportunity to save about $30 each month on your electricity bill. It is because of this that we decided to expand our relationship with Mountain Village and collaborate with them. With our shared commitment to developing programs that work for our members, Relight Mountain Village truly is a win-win for those who participate.”

Dan Jansen, mayor of Mountain Village, couldn’t agree more. In 2009, Mountain Village pledged to support Colorado Governor Ritter’s Climate Action Plan goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions 20 percent by 2020. The town government measures greenhouse gases using the amount of fuel, electricity and natural gas consumed by government operations annually.

“Earmarking funds for the energy reduction program Relight Mountain Village show not only the local government’s commitment to being part of the solution, but also the commitment of our residents, business owners and electric power cooperative,” said Jansen. “We can’t meet the goal of reducing our greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent within the next six years without their active support and participation.”  

Relight Mountain Village, a $20,000 funded program, is part of the town’s Energy Reduction Strategy. For 2014, Mountain Village’s elected officials allocated $350,000 for all town-related energy reduction projects.

ABOUT MOUNTAIN VILLAGE

Mountain Village, situated in the heart of the breathtaking San Juan Mountains, was incorporated in 1995 as a home rule municipality. Its founders envisioned a European-style ski-in/ski-out, pedestrian-friendly destination resort that would complement the historic mining town of Telluride. A three-stage gondola transportation system connects the Town of Mountain Village with the Town of Telluride. Situated at 9,500 feet, Mountain Village is comparably a world apart from other resorts: it is innately spectacular, beautifully orchestrated and planned, and overflowing with style, charm and sophistication. For more information, please visit us on the Web at townofmountainvillage.com.