Eco friendly streetlight conversion underway
2 November 2020
Work to convert street lights in Rotorua to LED technology is now underway.
Residents will begin to see employees from local electrical firm McKay in their neighbourhoods replacing 4500 street lights in our local streets.
Rotorua Lakes Council is investing more than $2.6 million installing new LED lights, with 85% of the cost met by Waka Kotahi New Zealand Transport Agency. The high subsidy rate is in recognition of the national benefits of converting streetlights.
Infrastructure Group Manager Stavros Michael says that the new street lights provide a number of benefits to Council and therefore the ratepayer.
The new lights are more energy-efficient which is better for the environment and will result in 60% reduction in power charges.
LED luminaires also have longer lives and require less maintenance further reducing costs. The replacement of the street lights with LED units will achieve the following benefits:
- Reduced energy consumption
- Reduced life cycle maintenance costs
- Reduced faults and outages
- Extended operating life time
- A higher quality of lighting
- Safer and better lit streets
- Reduced light pollution
- more directional light which results in less spill
- Constant light output - LEDs won't fade with time
All this adds up to reduced costs, better environmental outcomes and improved efficiencies in management of the streetlight network. Streetlights have a key public safety role both for all users of the public transport system.
LED lights have an average life of 20 years. The current street lights in use last about four years.
What residents will notice:
- Colour change - currently street lights produce a yellow/orange toned light. The new LEDs will have a white tone which isn't brighter but does improve visibility.
- Light direction - LED lights are directional meaning minor adjustments can be made to ensure no unwanted light spills into residential properties.
The conversion work is scheduled to be complete by June 2021.