Coquitlam joins Burnaby as being among the first municipalities in Metro Vancouver to have all of its street lights switched to LED.
And the city’s five-year conversion program not only cost $1 million less than budgeted, it will also half Coquitlam’s annual bills to power street lights.
Last month, Jaime Boan, Coquitlam’s general manager of engineering and public works, told council-in-committee that the program will result in 34 fewer tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions — equivalent to an energy savings for 193 homes.
As well, the brighter LED street lights will improve safety and visibility for pedestrians, cyclists and commuters, he said.
Before 2018, more than 5.5 million KWh of electricity were used to power the 9,800 street lights that the city owned.
Recently, BC Hydro also wrapped up its conversion of 2,000 street lights on wooden poles in Coquitlam, changing from the older high-pressure sodium (HPS) luminaires to the Light Emitting Diode (LED) technology.
Committee chair Coun. Dennis Marsden thanked city staff for delivering a project that’s "on time, under budget and environmentally friendly."
His comments were echoed by Mayor Richard Stewart and Couns. Brent Asmundson and Steve Kim.
Meanwhile, Boan said city staff are now looking at adaptive street lighting that would allow the municipality to dim street lights remotely.
The pilot program is now happening along Riverview Crescent in Coquitlam and is being eyed for the new Cedar Drive, at the base of Burke Mountain, he said.
The surplus $1.04 million for the LED conversion will return to the Road Asset Replacement Reserve, said deputy city manager Michelle Hunt.
