Aurora making switch to LED streetlights

Yorkregion.com
Dec. 10, 2015
By Teresa Latchford

Town council recently voted to light up Aurora in a more environmentally friendly fashion.

The approved project will convert existing street lighting across town to LED lights. Council approved the conversion this fall and will fork over $3,211,159 plus tax to RealTerm Energy to get the job done.

“Aurora town council is committed to providing our residents with safe, cost-effective and environmentally friendly solutions,” Aurora Mayor Geoff Dawe said. “This new lighting system will increase visibility and safety for the community by providing more light in public spaces and residential areas.”

LED lights are energy efficient, eco-friendly, have a long life span, require little maintenance, are durable and produce low ultra-violet emissions, according to Infrastructure and Environmental Services Director Ilmar Simanovskis.

The lights produce clean, white light, which will improve night visibility and community safety as well as reduce the town’s greenhouse gas emissions by 169 metric tonnes annually. That equals the amount of carbon removed by more than 4,300 tree seedlings grown for 10 years.

“The LED conversion program is a benefit to Aurora and a positive step towards adopting innovative solutions,” he added.

Led by the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) through its not-for-profit corporation Local Authority Services. LAS has spearheaded a competitive process to help Ontario municipalities find the right company to complete the conversion.

In March, council discussed and gave the green light to the LAS program that awarded RealTerm Energy the contract to prepare an audit detailing the project, energy and cost savings. The results show a 61 per cent reduction in energy consumption and a 52 per cent reduction in cost over the current budget.

The cost of the project will be funded with low interest debt financing from Infrastructure Ontario with the debt being paid off over the next ten years using the savings from lower energy and maintenance costs.

Installation is expected to begin this week and once complete, Aurora will join more than 130 municipalities that have upgraded including Markham and Newmarket.