//Brookhaven, GA receives Energy Matters Award

Brookhaven, GA receives Energy Matters Award

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ATLANTA – The City of Brookhaven will be presented with an Energy Matters Award for the “Best EV Municipal Energy Efficiency.”

Release:

Georgia Public Service Commission Vice Chairman Tim Echols will be in Brookhaven on Wednesday, August 3rd to present the City of Brookhaven with an Energy Matters Award in the “Best EV Municipal Energy Efficiency” category.

According to the US Department of Energy, widespread use of LED lighting has the greatest potential impact on energy savings in the United States. In its efforts to reduce its carbon footprint and have more efficient energy usage, Brookhaven has and plans to replace existing lighting with LED.

In 2020, Brookhaven replaced lighting at City Hall and the Blackburn Park tennis courts. In 2021, the City began the Dresden Drive streetlight LED conversion pilot project and will be working with Georgia Power to convert streetlights to LED throughout the City in 2022. Excessive use of artificial light, or light pollution, affects wildlife and contributes to the disappearance of a night sky with visible stars. Other than the benefits stated above, switching to warm-colored LED lighting reduces light pollution while providing visibility.

 In 2019, the City of Brookhaven purchased a pre-owned 2015 Tesla Model S for a pilot electric vehicle (EV) for patrol purposes. A comparison report was completed in 2020, and subsequent investments in 17 hybrid SUVs for police and administrative use. The City continues to monitor metrics such as fuel usage, maintenance costs, and vehicle lifespan to assess electric and hybrid models to replace gasoline-powered vehicles. As new EV models become available, and fleet vehicles near retirement, consideration of energy-efficiency will be a top priority in new vehicle selection. 

Funding in 2021 was used to purchase 15 hybrid SUVs within the Police Department and funding in 2022 will purchase 15 hybrid SUVs within the Police Department and 2 hybrid SUVs within the Community Development Department.

The 2022 vehicle replacements will bring the City’s energy-efficient fleet to approximately 40 percent.

Echols will present the award to Mayor John Ernst on Wednesday at 11:30am.

“I am grateful for our esteemed group of judges who met throughout the process multiple times to decide each and every award,” said Echols. “I hope we can do this every year and commend leaders in the sustainability movement.”

To find out more about Brookhaven’s energy efficiency efforts, contact Patrice Ruffin at patrice.ruffin@brookhavenga.gov.

To catch up with Commissioner Echols, reach him by cell at 706-340-0773.  This is the eleventh of 16 awards being presented for Sustainability leadership across Georgia by Commissioner Echols.  Each guest is interviewed for the Energy Matters Radio show on Cox Media as well as receiving a framed Georgia print provided by YKK.