B2.3 LED lighting *
Install LED lighting in public-sector buildings and infrastructure (e.g., street lights, traffic signals).
Street Lights
The International Dark Sky Association has advice about selecting LED street lights.
Olympia – In 2014, the City completed the second phase of its street light project, converting the remaining 1,300 PSE owned street lights, with expected energy savings totaling $60,000 per year.
Lacey – As of summer 2019, Lacey had replaced 1,715 of their 5,056 street lights (34 percent). They only replace street lights when the old bulb has burned out. When they complete the project, their street light electricity usage will be reduced by approximately 58 percent. The City has also converted its traffic signals to LEDs.
Tumwater – The city replaced 80% of its street lights with LEDs in 2017, reducing maintenance expenses, providing significantly better light, and eliminating mercury waste disposal as well as saving energy. The project was funded by a $220,000 Department of Commerce grant, $158,000 in utility incentives, and $506,000 from the City Transportation Capital Facility funds. The remaining 20% are to be upgraded soon.
Thurston County – In 2017 the County upgraded 80 street lights on the Yelm Highway to LEDs to improve lighting and safety. (The project cost $57,000, and they estimated it would save $2,300 a year in electricity costs and another $1,500 in reduced light bulb replacement. At that rate, it would take 15 years to payback the investment, without any net present value adjustment…) The County has 1,000 street lights.