The Sound Transit Board of Directors today unanimously approved a resolution to amend a budget in order to establish the $220,000 Auburn Garage Lighting Retrofit Project.

“The retrofit project is not only an excellent way to conserve energy, but also an effective way to save taxpayer dollars for the residents of Auburn and South King County,” said Councilmember Pete von Reichbauer, a member of the Sound Transit Board of Directors.

In May 2012, an energy audit performed by Sound Transit’s Sustainability Group determined that the Auburn Station garage is one of the largest consumers of electrical power within Sound Transit’s facilities.

The Auburn Station garage is one of four Sound Transit facilities identified for lighting retrofit projects, in addition to the Kent, Federal Way and Union Station Sound Transit garages. Sound Transit received a $400,000 State of Washington Department of Commerce Energy Grant to pay for a portion of these energy improvements.

By replacing the existing lighting with LED components, it is estimated that Auburn Station will achieve $12,000 per year in energy-cost savings as well as $10,500 annually in reduced maintenance costs, due to the long life of LED fixtures.

The project also will be eligible for a utility incentive in the amount of $37,391, which will be used in conjunction with the Department of Commerce Energy Grant to offset the project costs.