Oldman River Regional Services Commission Office Lighting Upgrade – Town of Pincher Creek

Overview

Led by the Town of Pincher Creek, the Oldman River Regional Services Commission (ORRSC) has completed a lighting retrofit at its regional office in the City of Lethbridge. The Town received an $8,200 rebate through the Community Energy Conservation (CEC) program to support the installation of 93 high-efficiency LED light fixtures. These new lights have replaced outdated and inefficient fluorescent lighting. As a result, the office is expected to consume approximately 12,086 kWh less annually.

Approach

The ORRSC is a municipal service organization shared by 50 rural and urban municipalities in southern Alberta. It provides a range of services including land use planning, subdivision, GIS, drone photography, and assessment reviews to municipalities spanning the Oldman, Milk, and Bow River watersheds. The Town of Pincher Creek, a member of the ORRSC, led the lighting retrofit project.

Results

The new LED lighting system is projected to save the ORRSC approximately $2,800 annually due to its higher efficiency and lower wattage. Additionally, lighting levels and quality throughout the building have been greatly improved, benefiting both staff and visitors. The upgrade will also reduce the office’s carbon footprint by roughly 6.32 tonnes of CO₂ per year, equivalent to 155 tonnes over the lifespan of the fixtures. This represents a significant step by the Town of Pincher Creek and all other ORRSC municipal members toward reducing energy consumption and promoting sustainability.

“The office enhancement will greatly impact municipal users, Commission staff, and visitors to our building, while at the same time making an impact on our environment and creating energy efficiencies impacting our bottom line.”

Lenze Kuiper, CAO, Pincher Creek