Friends of Monroeville Public Library makes donation toward energy savings

Friends of the Monroeville Public Library has donated $5,000 toward updating the library’s 58-year old lighting system to help save energy costs and maintenance hours.

The donation helps the library take advantage of a program from Duquesne Light Co., which offers a discount for energy-efficient bulbs and equipment.

Friends members are encouraging the community to match their donation by “buying a bulb” for $25.

“We hope all who use and love the Monroeville Public Library will join us to replace existing lights with over 370 LED lights throughout the building, generate huge savings in energy and labor costs, and make the library even brighter,” said Diane Lindsey, Friends president.

If the community can match the Friends donation of $5,000, the project will be fully funded.

Most of the existing fixtures can be upgraded with LED bulbs and internal electronics, resulting in an estimated reduction in the library’s energy costs of $3,000 to $4,000 a year going forward, according to Alan Rader, assistant library director.

“What’s more, LEDs have a life cycle of about 20,000 hours, versus 1,200 hours for today’s fluorescents. That means bulbs will have to be replaced 16 times less often, a huge labor and cost savings,” he said.

Light Up the Library donations can be made at the library; by mail to Friends Buy a Bulb, 4000 Gateway Campus Blvd., Monroeville, Pa. 15146; or by credit card at monroevillelibrary.org .

Friends of the Monroeville Public Library is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization that has been supporting the library for more than 60 years.