Terry Shinn with the Charleston Civic Center's engineering department holds one of the 1,441 LED light tubes that replaced the old T12 fluorescent tubes throughout the Civic Center. Since 2011, the facility has saved more than 273,000 kilowatt-hours and received more than $31,000 in rebates from Appalachian Power's energy-efficient lighting program.

Charleston Civic Center visitors have already noticed the brightness of the new energy efficient lights in its breakout lobby and meetings rooms, Assistant Manager Jim Smith said.

Charleston Civic Center Assistant Manager Jim Smith said the rebate from Appalachian Power's energy-efficient lighting program was nearly as much as the exit sign replacement cost. The new exit signs (right) use LED lighting instead of the old fluorescent tubes.

The Charleston Civic Center replaced more than 60 of its exit signs with LED lights, instead of fluorescent tubes, which has saved the center from using almost 1,000 kilowatt-hours.