Sometime later this year, the city of West Richland may decide on a new technology to power the city’s street lights. Up for discussion is a switch to either LED or induction-based street lights.
Public Works Director Roscoe Slade tells us via email that street light “technology is rapidly improving and the cost continues to decrease.” He says the city is reviewing both induction and LED light manufacturers with the Benton REA, but he doesn’t expect a change in the city standard until later this year.
LED vs. Induction Lights
I’m no expert on street light options, so while trading emails with Roscoe and writing this post, I did a little online research to learn more about LED and induction lights. I quickly found this Frequently Asked Questions page on GreenStreetLights.com. If explains what both LED and induction lights are, and offers this three-point list about the benefits of switching to energy efficient street lights:
Reduced energy usage.
Savings can be as much as 30 to 60%.Long bulb life.
Bulbs are rated at 100,000 hours, which can equal about 20 years of life, based on normal street light operating hours.Short pay back of initial investment.
Depending on energy and maintenance costs, pay back can occur between 3 and 7 years.
Benton REA is currently testing some induction street lights on Kona Drive (near Belmont) to verify actual energy savings compared to regular street lights. You can tell which ones they are because they have a whiter light than the rest of the street lights.
If the city does choose to change its standard for street lights, Slade says news developments would be built with the new lights and “then the City would pursue grants / funding to begin retrofitting the rest of the City.”
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