Agenda Item
iv. Work Order ~ Georgia Power Company ~ Lighting Services -Georgia Power Company MSA Energy-Related Equipment Sale and Installation ~ Phase I Interior Lighting Package (Not to Exceed $2,872,951)
Summary: Presented by: Mr. Erick Hofstetter, Chief Operating Officer, Division of Operations
Request: It is requested that the DeKalb County Board of Education approve the work order to Georgia Power Company under the Georgia Power Company’s Master Service Agreement for Energy Conservation Measures for the Phase 1 Interior LED Lighting Upgrade, not to exceed $2,872,951.
Why: Approval of the Work Order will allow Georgia Power to upgrade interior lighting at the schools identified in Phase 1 of the Energy Conservation Services Agreement- Lighting Survey, in the effort to upgrade the necessary lighting in classrooms and spaces within the schools.
Details: At its business meeting on Monday, May 12, 2025, the Board approved DeKalb County School District’s (DCSD) participation in Georgia Power’s Energy Conservation Measure Service utilizing the Savannah-Chatham County Public School System (SCCPSS) Request for Proposal (“RFP”) C21-03. The partnership with Georgia Power has allowed DCSD to use the Energy Conservation Service Agreement to obtain the services of upgrading LED lights within our schools. The approved work order will be used under the Master Services Agreement for Energy-Related Equipment Sale and Installation.
Phase 1 Schools:
Bob Mathis Elementary
Browns Mill Elementary
Chapel Hill Elementary
Columbia Elementary
Stephenson Elementary
Princeton Elementary
Rock Chapel Elementary
Shadow Rock Elementary
Wadsworth Magnet at Knollwood ES
Huntley Hills Elementary
Stone Mountain Elementary
Marbut Elementary
Montgomery Elementary
Lithonia Middle
Woodward Elementary
Redan High
Redan Middle
Snapfinger Elementary
Sustainability: Benefits to upgrading to LED Lights
The schools identified in Phase 1 of the Lighting Survey Audit were selected as these schools currently utilize T12 Fluorescent bulbs. The production of T12 bulbs has been phased out due to federal energy efficiency regulations favoring T5s and LED lighting. For the District, T12s are essentially discontinued, and will be replaced with more modern, efficient LED lighting.
Details on T12 Fluorescent Bulbs:
Federal Ban (2012): The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) mandated an end to the production and import of most T12 lamps and magnetic ballasts, citing energy inefficiency.
Energy Efficiency: T12s are outdated; T8, T5, and especially LEDs offer better performance, lower energy use, and less heat.
State-Level Bans: Several states (like CA, OR, WA, NJ, etc.) have enacted their own bans on the sale of fluorescent lighting, accelerating the transition away from T12s and other types.
Supply Issues: Because manufacturing stopped, finding new T12 bulbs, starters, and ballasts has become difficult and expensive, with prices often tripling.
Replacement Focus: The industry is focused on retrofitting T12 fixtures to use LED tubes, which offer significant long-term savings.
The Division of Operations recognized the need to upgrade all rooms and spaces within our schools to LED lighting. This is in alignment with DCSD Board Policy EBL - Environmental Programs, adopted 07/14/2008, that calls for a comprehensive Lighting Energy Audit and subsequent implementation of a conservation and improvement plan.
Financial impact: The total budget of $2,872,951 for this project is allocated from the cost code (100.2600.543009.00011.7520.9990.8013.040.0000) under the Division of Operations General Fund Budget.
Contact: Mr. Erick Hofstetter, Chief Operating Officer, Division of Operations, 678.676.1470
Mr. Hans G. Williams, Director of Planning & E-SPLOST Programming, Division of Operations, 678.676.1588
Mr. Bobby Moncrief, Director of Facilities, Division of Operations, 678-676-1478
Effective: Upon Board Approval
Status: Approved by the Office of Legal Affairs
Making Energy Simple
for DeKalb County Schools
LED Lighting Survey
January 22, 2026
1
Today’s Conversation
LED Lighting Survey Aduit
Approach/Deliverable- Phase 1 (18
Schools)
Overview of Survey/Analysis of
DCS Lighting Phase 1
GPC Value Proposition/ Cash
Proforma
Our Path Forward
2
Lighting Survey Audit Approach & Deliverable
Detailed Audit :
• Number of fixtures by Room/Area Type/Building
• Action or Non-Action if existing LED; Convert to LED
• Provide Spec Sheets on each LED Solution
• Maintain DCS/IES Standards
Analysis to include:
• Project Cost per Building for LED Conversion
• Energy and Operational Savings
• ROI/Simple Payback per Building
• Hours of Operation used per Building
• $/kilowatt (kWh) hour
• Georgia Power Rebates
• Annual financial cost based on estimated interest
rates
3
DeKalb County School District Phase 1
Region Sqare
Phase Type Facility Name School Name Address City_State Zipcode Year Opened
Assigned Footage
Phase 1 ES Region 1 Huntley Hills Elementary Facility Huntley Hills ES 2112 Seaman Circle Atlanta, GA 30341 1964 54,012
Phase 1 ES Region 1 Woodward Elementary Facility Woodward ES 3034 Curtis Dr. NE Atlanta, GA 30319 1961 74,161
Phase 1 ES Region 1 Montgomery Elementary Facility Montgomery ES 3995 Ashford-Dunwoody Rd. Atlanta, GA 30319 1963 67,216
Phase 1 ES Region 3 Marbut Elementary Facility Marbut Theme ES 5776 Marbut Road Lithonia, GA 30058 1996 91,478
Phase 1 ES Region 3 Pine Ridge Elementary Facility Pine Ridge ES 750 Pine Ridge Drive Stone Mtn, GA 30087 1988 87,192
Phase 1 ES Region 3 Princeton Elementary Facility Princeton ES 1321 S. Deshon Rd Lithonia, GA 30058 2007 101,822
Phase 1 ES Region 3 Rock Chapel Elementary Facility Rock Chapel ES 1130 Rock Chapel Road Lithonia, GA 30058 1969 71,143
Phase 1 ES Region 3 Shadow Rock Elementary School Facility Shadow Rock ES 1040 Kingway Dr Lithonia, GA 30058 1991 117,776
Phase 1 HS Region 3 Redan High Facility Redan HS 5247 Redan Road Stone Mtn, GA 30088 1976 258,889
Phase 1 MS Region 3 Lithonia Middle School Facility Lithonia MS Lithonia, GA 30058 1965 172,159
2451 Randall Ave
Phase 1 MS Region 3 Redan Middle Facility Redan MS 1775 Young Rd Lithonia, GA 30058 2003 161,263
Phase 1 ES Region 4 Stone Mountain Elementary Facility Stone Mountain ES 6720 James B. Rivers Dr Stone Mtn, GA 30083 1954 65,647
Phase 1 ES Region 5 Bob Mathis Elementary Facility Bob Mathis ES 3505 Boring Road Decatur, GA 30034 1975 69,401
Phase 1 ES Region 5 Browns Mill Elementary Facility Browns Mill ES 4863 Browns Mill Road Lithonia, GA 30038 1990 75,978
Phase 1 ES Region 5 Chapel Hill Elementary Facility Chapel Hill ES 3536 Radcliffe Boulevard Decatur, GA 30034 1967 69,150
Phase 1 ES Region 6 Columbia Elementary Facility Columbia ES 3230 Columbia Woods Dr Decatur, GA 30032 1961 75,793
Phase 1 ES Region 6 Snapfinger Elementary Facility Snapfinger ES 1365 Snapfinger Road Decatur, GA 30032 1964 87,316
Wadsworth Magnet School @ Knollwood
Phase 1 ES Region 6 Wadsworth Magnet Decatur, GA 30032 1955 66,649
Elementary Facility
3039 Santa Monica Dr
4
LED Lighting Phase 1 Mapped
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Phase 1: LED Lighting Survey Findings/ Overview
LED Lighting Fixture Family Existing Footcandle Levels
School Name Hallway Cafeteria Classrooms Gym Media Center
Bob Mathis Elementary 25 - 65 FC 35 - 40 FC 40 - 55 FC 30 - 45 FC 45 - 55 FC
Browns Mill Elementary 55 - 115 FC 45 - 55 FC 30 - 40 FC 90 - 100 FC 40 - 55 FC
Chapel Hill Elementary 50 - 65 FC 20 - 25 FC 40 - 55 FC 35 - 45 FC 40 - 55 FC
Columbia Elementary 40 - 110 FC 35 - 45 FC 30 - 70 FC 90 - 100 FC 30 - 55 FC
Huntley Hills Elementary 40 - 55 FC 30 - 40 FC 40 - 45 FC 15 - 45 FC 30 - 40 FC
Lithonia Middle 35 - 70 FC 30 - 35 FC 25 - 40 FC 60 - 70 FC 50 - 60 FC
Marbut Elementary 60 - 80 FC 60 - 70 FC 40 - 65 FC 10 - 20 FC 30 - 50 FC
Montgomery Elementary 5 - 30 FC 15 - 20 FC 30 - 60 FC 40 - 50 FC 15 - 20 FC
Pine Ridge Elementary 60 - 80 FC 35 - 50 FC 30 - 40 FC 30 - 40 FC 60 - 70 FC
Princeton Elementary 10 - 40 FC 70 - 80 FC 35 - 45 FC 30 - 45 FC 60 - 70 FC
Redan High 15 - 50 FC 35 - 65 FC 20 - 30 FC 35 - 80 FC 35 - 75 FC
Redan Middle 20 - 45 FC 20 - 30 FC 30 - 45 FC 20 - 35 FC 30 - 40 FC
Rock Chapel Elementary 15 - 40 FC 20 - 30 FC 30 - 40 FC 15 - 20 FC 40 - 50 FC
Shadow Rock Elementary 10 - 35 FC 30 - 40 FC 30 - 80 FC 25 - 35 FC 25 - 40 FC
Snapfinger Elementary 35 - 80 FC 40 - 55 FC 30 - 45 FC 10 - 20 FC 35 - 50 FC
Stone Mtn. Elementary 10-35 FC 50-55 FC 35-50 FC 85-110 35-45 FC
Wadsworth Elementary 45-75 FC 40 - 55 FC 30 - 55 FC 30 - 100 FC 10 - 30 FC
Woodward Elementary 45-75 FC 30 - 40 FC 10 - 35 FC 60 - 80 FC 30 - 55 FC
Higher than IES Standards 6
Lower than IES Standards
Phase 1: LED Lighting Survey Findings/ Overview
Existing Conditions Summary
1. LED Flat Panel Fixtures (Hallways, Offices, Cafeterias,
Media Centers)
• Wattage Range: 40W–60W (varied across spaces)
• Mounting: Fixtures not securely tied off to the structure above —
potential safety and maintenance concern
2. Classrooms
• Condition: Not updated; many fixtures still fluorescent or older LED
types
• Lighting Quality: Under-lit, with frequent lamp and ballast outages
3. Color Temperature
• Mixed (3000K / 4000K / 5000K), leading to inconsistent visual
appearance
Key Issues Identified
• Safety/Installation: Hanging fixtures not properly supported
• Lighting Uniformity: Large variation in wattage and color temperature
across spaces 7
DeKalb County School District – Value Proposition
LED Lighting Recommendation Options
• Option 1 – Replace All Existing Troffers with New LED Flat Panels
– Include Existing LED Flat Panels in Over Lit Areas - (3,149) Fixtures
– Tie Off to Structure Above
• Option 2 - Replace All Existing Troffers with New LED Flat Panels
– Do Not Include Existing LED Flat Panels in Over Lit Areas - (3,149) Fixtures
• Option 3 - Replace All Existing Troffers with New LED Flat Panels
– Do Not Include Existing LED Flat Panels in Over Lit Areas - (3,149) Fixtures
– Tie Off to Structure Above - (3,149) Fixtures
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LED Lighting – Cash Proforma – Option 2
Annual Savings Payback GPC
School Cost Price Energy HVAC M&O Total (Years) Rebates
Bob Mathis Elementary $124,604 $149,524 $22,253 $2,536 $2,711 $27,500 5.4 $16,176
Browns Mill Elementary $135,558 $162,669 $32,674 $4,988 $4,188 $41,849 3.9 $17,598
Chapel Hill Elementary $26,415 $31,698 $2,434 $93 $493 $3,020 10.5 $3,429
Columbia Elementary $104,507 $125,409 $26,740 $3,833 $3,030 $33,603 3.7 $13,567
Pine Ridge Elementary $158,097 $189,716 $24,308 $3,136 $3,200 $30,644 6.2 $20,524
Princeton Elementary $229,841 $275,809 $29,789 $4,104 $5,347 $39,239 7.0 $29,837
Rock Chapel Elementary $123,699 $148,439 $21,729 $2,942 $3,005 $27,676 5.4 $16,058
Shadow Rock Elementary $118,406 $142,087 $18,706 $2,412 $3,649 $24,767 5.7 $15,372
Wadsworth Magnet & Knollwood ES $103,473 $124,168 $16,825 $2,064 $2,271 $21,161 5.9 $13,433
Huntley Hills Elementary $50,478 $60,574 $10,579 $1,595 $1,256 $13,431 4.5 $6,553
Stone Mountain Elementary $112,678 $135,214 $15,168 $2,138 $2,573 $19,879 6.8 $21,027
Marbut Elementary $135,558 $162,670 $24,752 $3,290 $3,714 $31,756 5.1 $17,597
Montgomery Elementary $18,162 $21,794 $5,366 $475 $648 $6,488 3.4 $2,358
Lithonia Middle School $239,364 $287,237 $30,730 $4,076 $6,548 $41,354 6.9 $31,074
Woodward Elementary $88,802 $106,562 $16,285 $2,326 $1,825 $20,436 5.2 $11,528
Redan High $348,559 $418,271 $40,717 $6,733 $8,007 $55,457 7.5 $45,250
Redan Middle School $115,634 $138,761 $18,238 $1,910 $3,018 $23,165 6.0 $15,010
Snapfinger Elementary $143,358 $172,029 $20,995 $2,687 $2,551 $26,233 6.6 $18,609
Total $2,377,192 $2,852,630 $378,288 $51,339 $58,031 $487,658 5.8 $315,000
Financial Overview
Project Cost $2,852,630
Annual Savings $487,658
Annual Payment (10 yr., 7.0%) ($406,150) 9
Net Positive Cashflow $81,507
DeKalb County School District – Value Proposition
1 2 3 4 5 6
Design Funding Savings Financing Return Responsibility
GPC works GPC funds the LED GPC will maximize Utilize GPC's MSA bill Lower energy costs, Single source
collaboratively with Retrofit Project upfront energy efficiency pay in lieu of 3rd party reduced maintenance responsibility provided
DeKalb County School with no DeKalb County rebates to offset project financing eliminating expenses, reduced by GPC
to design a cost- School District capital costs and guarantee the debt carbon footprint,
effective LED Lighting required energy savings enhance occupant well-
Retrofit System being
10
Our Path Forward