Lighting Upgrade at the Fairgrounds

The Board of Directors for the Darke County Agricultural Society are pleased to announce they are participating in the Dayton Power and Light incentive program to replace T12 lamps and ballasts.At the request of Bud Bruchy owner of Bud's Electric, a representative of Dickman Supply, Jeff Roberts, made the Fair Office aware of the fact that in July, T12 technology will be phased out by the U.S. Department of Energy. During this process, the Fairboard learned that one of the most cost-effective energy projects to do in the buildings containing T12 lamps and old ballasts at the Fairgrounds would be to replace the T12 lamps and ballasts with more efficient T8s or T5s and electronic ballasts.

Partnering with Dickman Supply and Bud's Electric, the Board held a special meeting on May 16th and unanimously voted to approve expending approximately $45,000.00 to retrofit and/or replace 1,034 lights in 37 buildings. The total project cost is close to $60,000.00 with the Dayton Power and Light rebate program of 50% for materials amounting to approximately $15,000.00.

The new T8 lamps and electronic ballasts will reduce the Board's energy consumption by 30% in the 36 buildings currently using T12's. The upper level of the Coliseum will have the existing sixty 400 watt hi-bay lights replaced by sixty 6 lamp T8 hi-bays. These new lights alone will reduce the
energy use in the upper level of the Coliseum by 50%.

When this replacement/retrofit project is completed, the total reduced energy use combined with the Dayton Power and Light rebate will allow the Board to recoup their $45,000.00 investment for this capital improvement project in approximately 4 years.

This project will be completed prior to the start of the 156th Fair that runs August 17-25.