No Smart Streetlighting in Waterloo — for Now
June 21, 2016
City of Waterloo council members have universally voted against adding smart technology to an LED streetlight conversion project, based on a recommendation from city staff. The technology offers potential energy and cost savings by giving municipalities the option to dim streetlights.
As reported by Anam Latif in the Waterloo Region Record, the additional $1.2 million required was not in the budget, could incur extra costs, and delay the streetlight conversion project. Furthermore, the technology is rapidly changing, so that adding it at this stage could be “premature.”
“It seems counterintuitive to not do something that’s innovative,” said Councillor Diane Freeman, who voted no. Councillor Jeff Henry was more pragmatic: “I’m not spending money hoping for dollars.”
The LED conversion project on its own, involving 8,000 streetlights, is expected to save the community about $420,000 annually in electricity costs. The conversion will be completed in 2019.
Down the road in Kitchener, Ontario, the council has already agreed to install the smart technology in their streetlights. It has the potential to also monitor snow levels and waste management.
Image courtesy of Feelart at FreeDigitalPhotos.net.
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