Entegrus crews will soon begin converting Chatham-Kent streetlights into new, energy efficient LED lamps.
A total of 9,980 cobrahead lights need to be converted starting in June, with Entegrus Conservation Officer Paul Machado arguing the move will improve visibility and efficiency on CK streets.
"I personally believe we're going to have a brighter white light on the roads. From a perspective standpoint as you're driving on the road, any small gaps of darkness aren't going to be as relevant when you see a bright white path ahead," says Machado.
Entegrus officials are preaching energy conservation and efficiency throughout the process. The current lighting system requires $129,000 a month in maintenance and utility costs. While the first part installation will cost nearly $1.5 million ($2.1 million before rebates), they expect the LED lights to save $400,000/year in energy rates, and produce an additional $140,000/year in maintenance savings.
The LED streetlights will have a more focused beam, and the power authority has heard concerns the lights will fail to illuminate residents' yards and porches. But Chief Conservation Officer Tomo Matesic says the benefits far outweigh that downside.
"One of the negatives of the current light system is you have to close your blinds at night to block out the streetlight. It's not going to be right on your front step, but you're still going to get the same roadway lighting. There is a balance, but overall, I think the change for the residents is going to be more positive than negative," says Matesic
The lights will be installed in two phases, the first of which will see Chatham, Blenheim and Dresden among the first batch of communities to get the new lighting. That phase will be completed by the end of this year. Entegrus will then go to Chatham-Kent Council in 2017 to ask for another $1.1 million for the second phase.