LED Street Lights Planned for Four Locations in North Reading

From the Town of North Reading:

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources recently awarded the Reading Municipal Light Department (RMLD) a $250,000 grant for energy efficiency programs to increase cost saving and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

A portion of this grant will be used for municipal energy efficiency projects for Light Emitting Diode (LED) lighting to reduce municipal energy bills. In the coming weeks, RMLD will install LED lighting pilot projects valued at $31,250 each, in each of its member communities.

RMLD has selected four areas in North Reading for the pilot project:

• Main Street, north of Park Street: replace five 250 watt High Pressure Sodium (HPS) lamps;
• North Street, vicinity of Hillview Country Club: replace five 100 watt HPS lamps;
• Country Club Road, North street to Wren Circle: replace five 50 watt HPS lamps; and
• Town Hall: replace five 400 watt HPS lamps
  

For maps of the exact locations, click here.

LED lights are up to 60% more efficient than traditional street lamps, resulting in decreased carbon emissions and dramatically reduced Town operating costs. LED lights can also enhance night time visibility by producing a whiter light than ordinary street lights. Pilot street lighting will consist of 70 watt LED lamps and parking lot lighting will consist of 250 watt LED lamps.

RMLD estimates that the demand reduction of the 20 LED lamps installed in North Reading will be approximately 12,660 kilowatts (kW) per year and an annual Town cost savings of $1,545.