City Installs Energy Efficient Street Lights
PIERRE, S.D. – Things are looking brighter in Pierre. That’s thanks to new LED street light fixtures the City’s electrical department is installing. The new fixtures produce a whiter light and utilize far less energy than the traditional fixtures they replaced.
City Electrical Superintendent Ryan Grant says that the new lights are efficient on a number of fronts which equates to savings for the city and taxpayers alike.
“The lights burn about 45% less energy. With the installations we’ve already done and those that are scheduled, we anticipate tens of thousands of dollars in savings during the lifespan of the fixtures,” said Grant.
Just last week, the electrical department installed 35 of the new fixtures along Fourth Street. Anticipated annual energy savings on those lights alone is estimated at more than $1,250.
“Collectively, in the last two years or so, we have probably replaced about 100 fixtures throughout the community,” said Grant.
LED lights have already been installed on Governors Drive, North Harrison Avenue, near Kennedy Elementary, Historic Pierre Street, and Dakota Avenue. Throughout the next several years, the electrical department will continue to replace lights throughout the community in accordance with its replacement schedule.
Aside from energy savings, the new fixtures also have a life span of 50,000 hours –that’s five times the life span of the old lights. And the upfront cost of the fixtures is also less expensive than the older lights.
“Technology is wonderful thing,” said Grant. “Electrical devices are getting more and more efficient allowing us to provide better service at a lower cost to our customers.”
The City’s electrical utility serves more than 7,300 customers. The Electric Department’s ten employees are responsible for the transmission and distribution of the City’s electricity, as well as street lights, traffic signals and city electrician needs.
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PHOTO : City of Pierre Lineman Steve Kuiper installs a new energy efficient street light fixture on Fourth Street.