PENTICTON – The City of Penticton’s LED street light project is turning a bright idea into cost savings for years to come.

High-efficiency LED lighting will replace standard “cobra-head” lights and post-top lights in subdivisions throughout the City of Penticton by the end of December. In total, 2,727 lights will be replaced.

“LED lights have been installed in certain areas of Penticton as a trial, and we have heard positive feedback from residents. This initiative ensures our community becomes more sustainable, environmentally friendly and cost-effective,” said Mayor Andrew Jakubeit.

LED (light emitting diode) lights are more energy efficient, reducing consumption by 67% on average.

The lifespan of LED lights is also considerably longer, lasting for 20 years on average, compared to 5 to 7 years for the old lights. This will save ongoing operations and maintenance costs, and all lights installed during the project will have a 10-year warranty.

Work begins this fall, with the aim to complete conversion by the end of the year. Crews will be installing 40 lights per shift for a total of 68 days to complete the project. Flagging crews will be used as needed, and work will be done during off-peak driving times. Parked cars may block access to change out the lights, so businesses might notice bagged parking meters or cones placed a day ahead of replacement work.

The conversion project will save City operations $100,000 annually in energy and maintenance costs.