Pennsylvania Convention Center gets greener, saves money with upgrades

The Pennsylvania Convention Center is getting a reward for cutting its electric bill. 

Convention Center CEO John McNichol said his team replaced almost 1,000 light fixtures in the original part of the building at a cost of more than $400,000.

“These LED fixtures are very highly efficient, and they last longer, so the operating cost is significantly less,” he said.

The upgrade is also good for the environment, said Liz Murphy of PECO.

“It’s like getting 55 cars off the road, or it’s like planting 600 trees,” she said. “So major energy impact from an environmental perspective.”

PECO gave the center a $60,000 rebate toward the cost of the upgrade — the amount the center expects t’s also about how much the center expects to save in electricity each year.