LEDs may be coming to a street near you

Residents in West Kelowna may notice street lights in their neighbourhood getting some attention as the City undertakes its LED (Light Emitting Diode) Streetlight Pilot Project.

During the month of December, the City’s street lighting contractor will be working to change 200 light fixtures in various locations throughout the City to LED lighting. The City expects the following benefits from the new LED lighting:

• Reduction in electricity and maintenance costs by 40% to 60%
• Lifecycles of 15 to 20 years compared to the current fixtures, which are 5 to 10 years
• Longer lifecycle and lower routine maintenance is expected to result in reduced maintenance costs of 50% to 75%
• Directing of light toward the roads and sidewalks with a reduction in the light spilled outside of the roadway and reflected up toward the sky which could mean a reduction in light pollution

The test locations were selected for areas in different neighbourhoods, on both residential and collector roadways. Staff will monitor the installations and collect feedback from area residents in 2017. The pilot project will be used as the basis for evaluating a business case for a large-scale replacement program on a city-wide basis. West Kelowna has a total of 1,750 streetlights.

The City currently has some LED streetlights installed, including on the upgraded portion of Brown Road, the Boucherie Wine Trail Upgrade.

Residents interested in finding out if their street will see new LED lighting can visit the website to find a map of LED locations or email the City.

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