Beginning August 26, the City of Renton will replace 3,865 street lights with energy-efficient LED lighting. These new lights will significantly reduce the city's electricity use and will save the city an estimated $55,000 in the first year of use and even more in succeeding years. LED lights last longer thereby reducing maintenance costs, provide much better illumination and color distinction at night, and can be directed to focus the light where it is needed. They also reduce the sky glow–the artificial illumination of the night sky—and help lower greenhouse gas emissions.
This $4.3 million project is mostly funded by grants and a low interest bond including $500,000 from the state Department of Commerce, $589,000 from Puget Sound Energy, and $3.2 million from a 15-year low interest Qualified Energy Conservation Bond.
“The LED light upgrades will result in significant energy and cost savings for the city while providing better lighting,” said Mayor Denis Law.
The street light replacement will be performed over the next several months during the daylight hours in residential neighborhoods and at night along commercial arterial streets and intersections. Renton based Ameresco Quantum LLC is the contractor for this project. In Renton, there are ornamental lights owned by neighborhood associations and more than 2,000 street lights owned by Puget Sound Energy that will not be changed out during this project. The city hopes to convert the street lights owned by Puget Sound Energy to LED lights in the future.
