City to Install LED Lamps in Streetlights this Spring

High-tech, low-energy LED lamps will be installed in streetlights in various locations around Novato now that the City Council has heard from residents about their lighting preferences.

The council voted 5-0 Tuesday to go with LED lights following the release of results from an online citizen survey that compared LED performance with induction lights. During January, residents were invited to check out test lights installed along South Novato Boulevard and state a preference on an Internet survey.

Jason Nutt, the city’s public works director, showed results that said 54 people told the city they favored LED lights to 41 who were for induction lights. He said the overwhelming response was favorable to replacing the old lamps that are out of date and inefficient.

“We found out that people felt it was a darn good idea to save energy by converting streetlights,” he said. “… It was more of an environmental incentive than anything.”

Advertising is open for the installation job and Nutt said he hopes to get approval on the awarding of a contract at the Feb. 22 council meeting. The city must have an obligation by March 1 and have an expenditure plan in motion or risk that the federal funding will be withdrawn. 

Nutt explained that the two alternatives were fairly similar; the LED and induction options save similar amounts on energy and on maintenance costs. Both lamp types last longer than the current lamps and contribute to lowering greenhouse gas emissions.  

There are some distinctions, however. Induction lighting mirrors fluorescent light, and some people have an optical reaction to it. Nutt said the LED lighting is said to have a harsher diode in that the light emitted from the core of the fixture is a bit stronger.

The money for the street light replacement project comes from the Energy Efficiency Community Block Grant, which are stimulus funds that became available as a result of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Of the $491,800 the city was awarded, $382,000 has been designated for the conversion to energy efficient streetlights.

City public works engineer Jerry Novak said the total amount allotted to the contractor will be closer to $352,000, all money that originated with the federal government.

Although the program must meet deadlines to secure the grant, the implementation phase isn’t necessarily set in stone. The change-out work could begin as early as mid-March.

The priority of installation could change if residents in a particular area had voiced some concerns. The City Council, led by Pat Eklund’s suggestions, wanted to have the flexibility to tone down the lighting power if it were so desired by a neighborhood, Nutt said. By going with a lower output fixture, the city would only further enhance its energy efficiency for lighting, Nutt said.