The City of Weston is continually looking for ways to save energy and money. One of the ways it is doing this is by upgrading to LED lighting in city parking lots. So far, the energy efficient LED lights have been installed at City Hall, the Administrative Services Center, Public Works Services Center, Police Services Center, Fire Station No. 81 and at Tequesta Trace Park. The parking lot lights at Weston Regional Park, Vista Park, Fire Station No. 67 and Fire Station No. 55 will be done next.
Director of Public Works Reddy Chitepu, P.E., says the City chose to upgrade its parking lot lighting “due to the age of the existing lighting systems with increased maintenance costs and the City’s standardization to LED’s at all the City’s facilities.”
The City initiated the parking lot lighting upgrade to LED lights in 2017. It began by selecting the light fixture and conducting a bid process to replace the lights at all ten city facilities. The total project cost will be $400,000. Chitepu says the City budgets annually to perform lighting upgrades. The Fiscal Year 2019 budget provided $250,000.
The hope is that the City will recoup some of its costs through energy savings. “LED lights are energy efficient and consume up to 90% less power than traditional lighting systems,” explains Chitepu. “After two years of actual costs, the City will do an actual comparison.”
In addition to energy savings, LEDs have lower maintenance costs as they last longer than incandescent or fluorescent lights. They also provide more light, because LEDs emit light in a specific direction, reducing the need for reflectors and diffusers that can trap light and also reducing light pollution. This is one of the many reasons LED lights are preferred for industrial use such as street lights, parking garage lighting, walkway and other outdoor area lighting.
Parking lots are not the only place the City of Weston is upgrading to LED lighting for energy efficiency and improved lighting. According to Chitepu, “The City will be complete with interior renovations to all three fire stations and the police station by the end of this calendar year. These renovations included the upgrade to LED lighting.” In addition, in 2011 the City upgraded to LED street lights.
According to ENERGY STAR®, LED stands for light emitting diode. LED lighting products produce light approximately 90% more efficiently than incandescent light bulbs. An electrical current passes through a microchip, which illuminates the tiny light sources called LEDs resulting in visible light. ENERGY STAR® is the government-backed symbol for energy efficiency.