Wednesday, March 31, 2010

In light of night, cities eye savings

Hailey, Bellevue test LED streetlights


By TONY EVANS
Express Staff Writer

One streetlight on Main Street in Hailey should be casting a brighter, more focused glow this week. Both Hailey and Bellevue city officials are testing LED lights in the hope that they will lead to big cost savings.

Light-emitting diode (LED) lights, first used in watches and calculators in the 1970s, are now being tested for reliability and cost savings as streetlights in many U.S. cities. LEDs use clusters of energy-efficient lights, rather than the conventional single-bulb, metal halide lights now used on Main Street in Hailey and Bellevue.

Hailey's new test streetlight on the corner of Main and Spruce streets was supplied for free by Boise-based Viridis Energy Solutions. Company co-owner Tony Newland said that compared to the previous fixture, the LED light will save 65 percent in energy costs and 98 percent in maintenance costs.

Newland said the bulbs will not need changing, but the lenses may need to be wiped off from time to time.

Viridis manufactures LED fixtures from components made in the U.S. and Asia.

Another test streetlight will be installed soon in Bellevue next to the Silver Dollar Saloon on the corner of Elm and Main streets.

"We are hoping the illumination goes up radically," Bellevue City Administrator Tom Blanchard said. "There is just not enough candlepower at that intersection. It's a safety issue."

Bellevue also hopes to cut the $17,000 annual bill it pays to power 30 street lights on Main Street.

Bellevue officials are working with Viridis to configure a street lamp that will use LEDs and also comply with the city's "dark sky" ordinance, which means it will focus light toward the ground.

Viridis spokeswoman Dale Finlay told the Bellevue City Council last week that the company can provide financing to allow cities to buy into LED technology. She also said federal stimulus funding could be used to pay for the lighting because of its "green" association.

Bellevue Council Chairman Chris Koch was supportive of the test, but wary of the cost of retrofitting all of Main Street.

"We have non-compliant streetlights right now due to our financial situation," he said. "If this works and it is a wash for the city, then great."

Tony Evans: tevans@mtexpress.com




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