Lake Zurich may convert street lights to LED

Lake Zurich may convert to what's touted as energy efficient public street lighting at a reduced cost under a state program.

Village board trustees and Mayor Thomas Poynton received a pitch Monday night from Josh Albrecht and James Becker, representatives of Lake Zurich-based BA Lighting Group. Under the proposal, it's estimated the village could save $10,800 in annual energy costs by switching to LED street lamps.

"There is a significant wattage reduction with LED," Becker told village officials. "That directly correlates to the financial benefits of going LED."

Lake Zurich public works manager Michael Brown said there are 170 village-owned street lamps, accounting for almost half the total. Lake Zurich's other streetlights are controlled by ComEd.

BA would charge Lake Zurich about $43,700 to convert the 170 traditional lamps to LED. However, the cost would be significantly reduced after a rebate from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.

Lake Zurich would receive about $41,300 in public money from the state, based on a formula involving an expected reduction in wattage used, Albrecht said. Lake Zurich's tab would wind up at about $2,400 for the new LED lamps.

Brown and other officials endorsed the proposal, which may go to a final village board vote in December or January.

"I think it is a really great program when we're looking for ways to save money," Brown said. "In maintenance alone, it should save time and money there."

In an energy efficiency procurement program report, the state's commerce and economic opportunity agency estimates Illinois has at least 1 million streetlight fixtures. Moving from traditional yellow street lighting to the white typically produced by LED would reduce energy consumption and improve quality, according to the report.

Albrecht said BA's lighting that would be installed for Lake Zurich meets Illinois Department of Transportation standards for public streets. One of the company's LED lights is being tested at Pheasant Ridge Drive and Partridge Lane on Lake Zurich's south side.

Brown said the village will have three more test sites for the LED lamps so residents can provide feedback about them. Albrecht said the LED lamps are designed to shine on the ground.

LED is short for light-emitting diode. Using LED bulbs could save the village money and help the environment, studies indicate.

Mundelein recently committed to fitting about 900 streetlights with the new bulbs. Naperville began a five-year, $6.3 million project to replace its streetlight bulbs with LED equipment this year.