City Pilots LED Streetlights Calculates 80 Percent Energy Savings
The figures are in, and after installing 29 LED street lights at Jim Warren Park the City has found the new lights to be 80 percent more energy efficient than the metal halides they replaced. The City also estimates it will save $1,500 annually on replacement costs and labor alone.
The lights were installed with leftover funds from an Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant through the Department of Energy. The current metal halide bulbs cost about $40 and the ballast $110 for a total of $150 each. The LED bulbs are more expensive and retail at $179/light, but no ballast is required. Despite the higher upfront cost, the LEDs are estimated to last 8-10 years and will only decline in light output, not burn out and they carry a 5 year 50,000 hour warranty.
To help spur energy efficiency, TVA established the Energy Right Solutions Program to provide a rebate to businesses and organizations that make energy efficiency upgrades. Upon gaining TVA approval, the City was rebated $35 a light through this program for a total of $1,019 for the purchase of 29 new LEDs. All 11 of the streetlights near the pond and skate park have been converted to LEDs and 18 were retrofitted in the parking lots of several baseball fields.
“This is one way we can cut costs and be more energy efficient,” said Sustainability and Grants Coordinator Andrew Orr. “There was no monetary output of City dollars for this initial pilot project, but it tells us we can save money in the future by using the LED lights as we begin replacing street lights in the coming years.”
The City of Franklin Street Department, with the help of the same TVA incentive mentioned above, replaced 16 downtown streetlights with the same LED lights.
