When Sir Adam Beck ceremonially switched on Windsor’s first electric street lights in front of the Windsor Armouries in the fall of 1914, the move connected the city to the provincial grid and the longest transmission line in the world at that time (250 miles). That was just over 100 years ago.
Now, the City of Windsor is embarking on another first: the conversion of more than 22,000 street lights from the current high-pressure sodium bulbs to a more efficient LED version.
The total cost of the conversion project is approximately $16.6 million. However, the city could recoup approximately $2.13 million of that from the retrofit program of the Independent Electricity System Operator, a Crown corporation operating Ontario’s electricity market. It estimated that approximately 32 million dollars could be saved over 15 years on electricity and maintenance costs.
In addition, other environmental and safety benefits include:
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Major reduction in the Windsor’s street lighting carbon footprint
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Increased vehicular and pedestrian safety through better visibility, object recognition and colour rendition
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Elimination of obtrusive sky glow, as LED fixtures are certified by the International Dark Sky Association (IDA) as being dark sky friendly
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Assistance in satisfying the goals and recommendations outlined in the City’s Environmental Master Plan and Community Strategic Plan.
EnWin Energy Ltd. is acting as the City’s the Project Manager and the fixtures will be supplied by LED Roadway Lighting Ltd. (LRL) and installed by Enersource Power Services Inc. (EPSI). The old HPS fixtures will be disposed and recycled by Green-Port Environmental Managers Ltd.
Windsor residents will be able to follow along as the project progresses in a couple of ways. Information on the project, including some commonly asked questions is available in a new video on YouTube and on our LED Street Light Conversion Project page. Also, a map has been created to allow residents to follow the progress of the project. A custom layer can be found under "My City" at www.mappmycity.ca.
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