Maple Ridge is gradually moving to better, cheaper lighting of its roads. Over the last several years, the city has installed LED (light-emitting diode) street lights in an area in one part of Silver Valley, along the expanded 128th Avenue from 210th to 224th streets, on the rebuilt 203rd Street, and recently along Lougheed Highway, west of Kanaka Way.
The intent was to do a phased, introductory approach allowing the testing of different models of LED-powered street lights. Some cities however have done full-scale conversions to LEDs.
“We want to do a good evaluation of them,” city engineer Dave Pollock.
LEDs first appeared about 10 years ago. Since then, LEDs have improved and costs have dropped.
“The cost per unit has come down considerably.”
Each LED light standard is about 30 to 40 per cent more efficient than the current, high-pressure sodium streets lights that now illuminate most of Maple Ridge’s roads.
With the less power needed and longer life spans, each LED light standard saves the city about $115 a year.
Staff will crunch the numbers, costs and savings and put them all in a report to council this spring.