"New, energy-efficient LED streetlights will save the city of New Brunswick $216,000 over their 12-year life span and reduce the city’s electrical use by 43 percent.
New Brunswick is taking strides to reduce its electricity bill and carbon footprint with the installation of single-headed LED light fixtures along George Street.
The fixtures, which line the road from New Street to Church Street, are part of the George Street Reconstruction Project, said city spokesman Bill Bray.
The LED lampposts burn 100 watts of electricity and replaced double-headed mercury vapor light fixtures that burned 350 watts, reducing the city's electrical use for street lighting by 43 percent, Bray said.
"Besides saving tax payer money, we're doing our part to save the planet and combat climate change," he said.
New Brunswick spends $900,000 on street lighting each year, Bray said. Out of the 47 LED fixtures on George Street, each one will save the city $32 per month, which totals $18,000 saved per year.
"The lamps are projected to last 12 years before the LED component needs to be replaced," Bray said. "You'd usually burn three sets of light bulbs in that time. Over their 12 year lifetime, the lights will save $216,000."
LED street lights will eliminate emissions equivalent to 40,420 pounds of carbon dioxide, he said.
"It's like taking 20 tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually out of the atmosphere," Bray said.The lights are part of a pilot program the city has in collaboration with PSE&G, which is funded by a $100,000 grant from Middlesex County, Bray said.
Each single-headed light is focused to shine on certain areas of the street, which amounts to less light pollution, he said.
"PSE&G is working with the city to see how effective the lights are," Bray said. "We're very thankful for these lights. They're not usually a standard fixture available for streets and roadways. They're cutting-edge stuff."
For now, New Brunswick is replacing any burnt out mercury vapor lamps with induction lamps from PSE&G, Bray said.
Induction lamps, which PSE&G began installing in New Jersey municipalities, are brighter, last four times longer and cost less to operate than the existing model, said Nicole Swan, a business analyst for PSE&G.
"This program is a win-win for the communities we serve," said Ralph LaRossa, PSE&G's president and chief operating officers in a press release. "It brings a new green source of lighting to our neighborhoods as it provides some relief to municipal budgets."
Bray said the city received no complaints about the lights thus far.
"They've been up for several months now and we haven't received any complaints," he said. "For most people, they don't realize what they are walking by."
One employee at Harvest Moon Brewery, located at 392 George St., complained about the lights, more specifically about their absence in front of the restaurant.
"They re-paved and put lights on the entire street except for this one block," Dario Galati said, general manager at the brewery. "We have to wait until May to get them, but they still closed our block during construction."
The road between Church Street and Albany Street would be paved and lined with LED lights after the construction's break for the school year, Bray said.
As long as LED technology evolves rapidly enough, the city will be able to afford installing the lights on other streets, he said.
"Stores like Home Depot have a growing offering of LED lights," Bray said. "You can buy them for your home and get the same type of energy savings through their use."
The entire George Street Reconstruction Project, the only reconstruction on the street since 1984, will take less than two and a half years, he said."
-Thanks to DailyTargum.com for posting this article!
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