ITD office earns $85K rebate for LED lights

COEUR d'ALENE — The North Idaho office of the Idaho Transportation Department earned a rebate for replacing light bulbs with energy-efficient LEDs for better visual clarity and driving safety.

The $85,411 rebate included replacing bulbs between Washington and Montana, and switching to LED lighting in the main department office in Coeur d’Alene.

More than 500 traditional bulbs along Interstate 90 were replaced with the new LED lighting, which is expected to save 396,456 kWh annually, amounting to almost $39,000 in savings for taxpayers each year.

The rebate from Avista Corp. will allow ITD to purchase more LED lighting to be used at various locations in Coeur d’Alene, Rathdrum, Hayden, Dover, Sagle and other areas throughout the region. ITD earlier made the switch to LED lighting in all of its sand storage sheds.

The energy savings has an equivalency in the residential world as well.

"The energy savings from this project alone is enough to power about 34 homes for 10 years," said Avista account executive Sharmon Schmitt.