Williamson County is seeing brighter nights at Southwest Williamson County Regional Park in Leander, thanks to a fresh set of sports field and court lights that won't rack up the energy bill as much as the old ones. Local officials, with all the pomp one expects at these events, snipped the ribbon on a lighting project that has swapped out power-hungry halogens for economy-grade LEDs, as reported by the morning's release from the county's website.
The upgrade, involving a switch from a mix of 1,500-watt and 1,000-watt fixtures to lower-wattage LED lights, included the park’s football, softball, and soccer fields as well as tennis and basketball courts; the project estimate has it pegged at a 55% reduction in energy costs, proving that sometimes a smaller wattage can indeed pack a bigger punch for the environment and the taxpayer's wallet. They originally had about 320 fixtures that were tossed aside for 196 models that are both less gluttonous when it comes to electricity and friendlier in the eyes, or so says the county's announcement.
In numbers that may well get the frugal-minded folks fist-bumping, the construction cost was quoted at $1.1 million—a sum that fell comfortably within Williamson County's FY23 Capital Improvement Project budget. Commissioner Valerie Covey of Precinct 3 pushed the narrative of fiscal and ecological responsibility, declaring, "With $1.1 million, the county was able to increase nighttime visibility while reducing energy use, thereby saving money," as per William County's official website.
Bridging the gap between public need and environmental consciousness, BJ Electric handled the hands-on work, with Musco Lighting coming in as the lighting supplier. This merry band completed the project without turning the park into a daytime spectacle in the middle of the night. "I’m happy to see the completion of this FY 23 capital improvement project. I am thankful for everyone who played a role in making this project a reality," Commissioner Covey enthused, as stated in the county's press release.
