Another city looking to save $$ and cut energy consumption with LED technology
Streetlights glow along Moody Street.
WALTHAM —Cities across the country, from Anchorage to Los Angeles, are looking to cut energy consumption and trim costs by installing LED streetlights. Ward 8 City Councilor Stephen Rourke thinks Waltham should look at following their lead. Through a resolution to the council last week, Rourke asked Mayor Jeannette McCarthy and other city officials to study the cost benefits of putting in LED streetlights. Cities that have already installed the light emitting diodes include Anchorage, Alaska, New York City, Los Angeles and Ann Arbor, Mich. While they cost more than traditional streetlights, the LED bulbs last longer, require less maintenance and use less energy.
“You have to spend some money to save money,” Rourke said.
Rourke said given that Waltham would be using an increasingly popular green technology, the city could get a hold of federal dollars to purchase the LED lights.”Many (cities) are using federal stimulus money to get their programs under way,” he said. Rourke said hopefully if the city did decide on using LED lights, there wouldn’t be a need to switch the poles and fixtures, only the bulbs. He said he would like to see the city look into at least a five-year plan on switching over the lights, as the technology is likely to only improve with time.
“I would be willing to bet five years from now we will have even better options,” he said.
The council’s Public Works Committee is expected to take up Rourke’s resolution soon.
