SUMMARY
The Town of Oakville has become an environmental leader through its conversion of 15,851 high-pressure sodium (HPS) street lights to light-emitting diode (LED) street lights. Not only did the LED conversion improve overall aesthetics, it also increased the town’s street lighting performance, illumination, and uniformity, while providing luminaires that last four times longer, utilize approximately 50% less energy, plus reduce maintenance costs. The LED conversion contributes significantly to the Town of Oakville’s commitment to improving programs and services that are both accessible, and environmentally and fiscally sustainable.
Download Case Study (PDF)PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS
- Project Site: Oakville, Ontario
- LED Conversion: 15,851 total fixtures of which 5,709 were decorative fixtures
- Project Budget: $12.6 million
- Save-On-Energy Rebates: $865,000 (estimate)
- Energy and Maintenance Cost Savings: $971,000 annually
ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERSHIP AND SUSTAINABILITY THROUGH LED STREETLIGHTING
THE CHALLENGE
With a vision to be the most livable town in Canada, the Town of Oakville is continuously improving programs and services that are both accessible and environmentally and fiscally sustainable. With that, it’s only suitable that the Town of Oakville wanted to improve their aging High Pressure Sodium (HPS) street lights to light-emitted diode (LED) luminaires to provide their residents with increased lighting performance, improved illumination and uniformity, while significantly reducing energy and maintenance costs. The LED Conversion program also included the implementation of an adaptive control system to allow for remote monitoring of all street lighting fixtures for improved asset management and further energy saving opportunities.
THE SOLUTION
The town’s LED conversion project encompassed 15,851 street lights that illuminate both road and sidewalk systems. The town provided total funds of $12.6 million and qualified for LED retrofit rebates offered under the Ontario Power Authority’s (OPA) Save-On- Energy program. A two-phase LED street light conversion program was developed and approved as part of the Town of Oakville Capital Budget process. Phase two of the program was awarded to King Luminaire Co. Inc., in partnership with Tymat Solutions, to convert approximately 5,700 decorative luminaires to LED.
We have been very pleased with the quality of King Luminaire’s products, their technical expertise and their unwavering customer support.
Martin Maguire, Manager – Traffic Operations, Town of Oakville
THE RESULTS
The project’s actual costs were in-line with the total budget estimate. Using the Ontario Power Authority’s (OPA) Save-On-Energy incentive program, total estimated rebates of approximately $865,000 will be provided which off-set conversion expenses and improves the payback time period.
High efficiency LED luminaires typically utilize 50%-70% less energy than HPS fixtures, while maintaining the same lighting levels. Year over year comparisons of energy costs for street lighting both before and after the LED conversion project have indicated a decrease of approximately $740,000 with further opportunities to decrease energy consumption with practices such as dimming fixtures during select time periods.
With LED luminaires typically lasting 15-20 years in comparison to HPS fixtures which require maintenance approximately once every five years, the Town of Oakville has estimated their maintenance savings at $231,000 since the system-wide introduction of LED fixtures.
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