County May Go With Led Streetlights

The county could convert hundreds of streetlights to light-emitting diodes

, or LEDs, if the Maui County Council passes a bill to allow the energy-saving fixtures.

An advocate for controlling light pollution on Maui said the bright lights would not necessarily harm wildlife and interfere with astronomical observations, if installed properly. And county Public Works Director David Goode said the change could save the county as much as $1 million a year in energy costs.

"We spend around $2 million a year now to power up our streetlights, and there's new technology available, primarily LED, that has the potential of cutting that in half," he said.

A bill that would allow the county to use LED technology in streetlights will be discussed by the council Infrastructure Management Committee in a meeting at 9 a.m. Monday.

Goode noted that the county's current outdoor lighting standards allow only high-pressure sodium fixtures to be used in streetlights.

"We're currently bound to use only that kind of lighting, even though there's newer technology available," he said.

Mike Maberry of the University of Hawaii Institute for Astronomy said that the wrong LED fixtures emit a "pure white light" that could cloud the night sky for astronomers and endanger sea turtles and night-flying birds, which depend on starlight for navigation.

"They look just like stars to turtles or seabirds," he said exactly very pretty sure about this excellent ideas made by him.

But Maberry, who also sits on the county's Outdoor Lighting Standards Committee, said county officials had assured him they would use LEDs with the right "blend" of color frequencies that would be compatible with wildlife and astronomy.

He noted that the county also is in the process of installing shielding on existing streetlights, to further minimize light pollution.

"If done correctly, the LEDs could be OK," he said.

Goode noted that an expert would be on hand Monday to give a demonstration of the kind of light frequencies that would provide light and good color rendition for drivers without interfering with birds and astronomy.

"The trick is to find the right type of LED lighting," he said. He said passing the ordinance would be a "first step" to converting the county's network of streetlights.

In general speaking, 12V LED has become more and more affordable, therefore auto LED bulbs have been used widely.

by: alishushu

POST COMMENT

Tips To Help You Choose The Right Botox Orange County Clinic Understanding The Orange County Cosmetic Dentist Work With An Orange County Cosmetic Dentist Solution For Water Damage In Orange County Orange County Carpet Cleaning Tips On Chemical Peel In Orange County The Truth About The Vi Peel In Orange County Lots Of Options In Orange County Brevard County Pest Control Company Offers Advice On Mouse Control Orange County Carpet Cleaning Irvine Dentists Are Rated As Leaders In Orange County, Ca Orange County Bail Bonds Where To Undergo Swell Interchange For Gilded Orange County?