Santino Reveals Plan to Install Energy-Saving Lights Within Town

TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD, NY - Town of Hempstead Supervisor Anthony J. Santino recently revealed the details of his project to install energy efficient L.E.D. streetlight fixtures within the Town.

So far, a total of 30,000 streetlights were installed and an estimated 20,000 more are planned to be installed.

In addition, the initiative would also involved converting 17,000 interior light fixtures at town facilities.

Santino discussed the plan at a recent press briefing on Hamilton Avenue in Island Park alont with Councilman Anthony D’Esposito, and Ricky Tripodo of Facility Solutions Group (FSG), a private sector partner that is converting streetlight elements with the town work crews.

“Hempstead Town taxpayers will be the direct beneficiaries of a major project that is replacing 50,000 high-pressure sodium streetlight elements with energy efficient and cost effective L.E.D. units,” Santino said. “The conversion of these lamps will result in net $43 million in savings over the next twenty years.”

Through the initiative, Hempstead Town will provide $17.7 million in financing and will realize total net utility and operational savings of $43.1 million over the next 20 years, according to Santino.

Component cost savings under the initiative include avoided costs associated with the 20-year useful life of L.E.D. fixtures (conventional light fixtures entail replacement costs of $250,000 annually), according to Santino.

“Supervisor Santino has put together a trifecta in this streetlamp conversion project,” D’Esposito said. “The initiative saves taxpayer dollars, conserves energy and diminishes the town’s maintenance effort on the part of town workers due to the extensive lifespan of L.E.D. elements.”

In the first month of the project, the new streetlight costs totaled $248,000 in February 2016 compared to $409,000 during the same period in 2015.

“The results of the town’s conversion from older technology streetlamps to state-of-the-art L.E.D. elements are very positive,” Tripodo said. “When fully implemented, the streetlight project will offer taxpayers measureable and significant savings.”

In addition, Santino is proposing to convert indoor lighting fixtures at the offices within the Town.

The first phase of the Supervisor’s indoor lighting conversion will replace a total of 4,000 lamps at four town buildings including: the old Town Hall, the new Town Hall, the Receiver of Taxes Offices and a town office building in Merrick.

The plan is expected to save a total of $200,000 over 10 years, according to Santino.