FOR COUNCIL MEETING OF:
AGENDA ITEM NO.:
PUBLIC WORKS FILE NO.:
TO:
~~O~~DfJTY COUNCIL
THROUGH:(__dND'A'NORRIS,
FROM:
SUBJECT:
January 27, 2014
7 (d)
~NAGE
PETER FERNANDEZ, P.E.
PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTO
LED STREETLIGHT UPDAT~
//-------
ISSUE:
The purpose of this report is to provide Council with information on the installation of
LED streetlights.
RECOMMENDATION:
Information only.
BACKGROUND:
Light Emitting Diode (LED) lighting options have been available for many years. In the
early 2000s, the City replaced all of the traffic signal red/yellow/green indications with
LEOs. At that time, white LED streetlight availability was limited because LED
technology had not advanced enough to provide a cost effective, energy efficient option.
As the technology improved, Portland General Electric (PGE) began evaluating the LED
options as an energy efficient streetlight alternative to the current High Pressure Sodium
(HPS) streetlights. PGE owns a portion of the streetlights within the City and provides
electricity and maintenance to the majority of City-owned streetlights. City staff
acknowledged PGE's knowledge and expertise in streetlighting, studied PGE's
evaluation of LED lighting options, and agreed with its recommendations to begin
conversion of HPS streetlights to LED.
From April through September 2012, City staff participated in a City/County
Streetlighting Group to discuss PGE's work on LED evaluations and the LED streetlight
tariff. Group members included staff from the City of Portland, City of Gresham, City of
Lake Oswego, City of Hillsboro, City of Salem, Washington County, Multnomah County,
and PGE.
In October 2013, PGE adopted a new tariff for LED streetlights. The tariff set energy,
maintenance, and replacement costs for LED streetlights. Local jurisdictions now have
the option to convert the streetlights that they own to LED. PGE is in the process of
converting its PGE-owned streetlights from HPS to LED in many cities and counties.
PGE began replacing the 2,500 HPS streetlights that it owns in Salem with LEOs in
October 2013. To date, City and PGE staff have received four concerns or comments
about the new LED lights (See Attachment A). One citizen wanted a glare-preventing
LED Streetlight Update
Council Meeting of January 27, 2014
Page 2
shield reinstalled with the new LED streetlight. Two residents felt the LED street lights
did not provide adequate levels of lighting. Northeast Neighbors (NEN) neighborhood
association sent a letter supporting the need for the footprint of illumination of the new
LED streetlights match and be consistent with the footprint of HPS lights.
Salem Electric adopted a tariff for LED streetlights on November 1, 2013. Salem
Electric has agreed to replace its HPS streetlights with LEOs when the ballasts or other
large components fail or reach the end of useful life.
The City's recently approved street design standards require LED lighting for all new
streetlight installations. Most of the City's street improvement projects that were
constructed in 2013 installed LED streetlights. These include the Eola Drive NW,
Kuebler Boulevard/Aumsville Highway SE, and Market!Swegle NE improvement
projects.
FACTS AND FINDINGS:
1. Many Cities in the United States have converted or are in the process of
converting to LED streetlights. Los Angeles finished converting 140,000
streetlights in 2012. New York will convert 250,000 streetlights by 2017. Boston
is in the process of converting 60,000 streetlights. Seattle will complete
installation of 45,000 LED streetlights this year.
2. There are more than 10,500 streetlights in the City of Salem. Of those,
approximately 2,500 are owned and maintained by PGE.
3. As of December 2, 2013, PGE had converted 1 ,450 streetlights from HPS to LED
in Salem. As of that same date, PGE had converted a total of 15,772 streetlights
within its regional service areas. PGE expects to finish converting the remaining
1,100 streetlights in Salem to LED by December 2014.
4. As shown in Attachment B, LED streetlights are designed to have a similar
illumination pattern as HPS streetlights. The Beta brand of LED lights that PGE
is installing in Salem was designed to have a similar illumination pattern as the
HPS light that it is replacing. Individual LED light elements can be pointed to
directly light a specific area and are designed to light more of the road. In
comparison, the light from HPS lamps is directed through the use of reflective
mirrors, creating a greater amount of ambient light pollution.
5. One challenge to providing adequate street lighting is that in many older
neighborhoods streetlights were installed retroactively and not designed with the
street. Streetlights were added individually so that the spacing of the lights does
not provide consistent lighting. In addition, the location and growth of street trees
have a significant effect on street lighting patterns.
6. Uniformity of illumination is an important design consideration when planning the
installation of streetlights. Driving on a street with uniform illumination makes it
JP/:G:\Group\directorVudy\Councii2014\Jan 27\LED Information Report.docx
LED Streetlight Update
Council Meeting of January 27, 2014
Page 2
easier for the eye to adjust to the light levels. HPS lights have a brighter and
larger focal spot directly below the light fixture. This causes a larger difference
(less uniformity) between the edges and the center of the illumination pattern.
LED streetlights do not emit such a variation in intensity and provide a more
uniform lighting pattern.
7. Light colors are measured by a color temperature unit called Kelvin (K). The
lower the Kelvin the more orange the light. The higher the Kelvin the more blue
the light. HPS lights have a Kelvin measure of around 2200K. The LED
streetlights currently being installed are 4000K. By comparison, a candle is
1,800K, Incandescent lamp is 2,700 to 3,300K, moonlight is 4,100K, and
overcast daylight is 6,500K. The LED lights provide a color of light that
approximates true moonlight.
8. Advantages of LED versus HPS streetlights:
LEOs use approximately 50 percent less energy.
LEOs last four times longer (20 years versus 5 years), reducing maintenance
costs.
Less ambient light make LEOs more Dark Sky compliant.
Light quality of LEOs improves safety with depth of field and peripheral vision
enhancements without color distortion (information from City of Seattle).
Reliability is improved with LEOs, resulting in fewer outages.
LED illumination provides better color recognition for law enforcement.
9. Disadvantages of LED streetlights versus HPS streetlights:
Higher LED fixture costs compared to HPS ($300-$500 versus $80).
However, prices for LED fixtures are rapidly coming down.
Perception of glare because of the white light, especially in fog.
Change from a warm orange light to a white/blue color light.
10. Based on current PGE tariff information, it is projected that electricity and
maintenance savings with LED streetlights will offset the higher fixture cost in
eight to nine years. LED streetlights are expected to last approximately 20 years.
Mark Becktel, AICP
Parks and Transportation Services Manager
Attachments:
A. Citizen and Neighborhood Comments
B. Light distribution maps (3)
Wards: All
Prepared by: Kevin Hottmann, P.E., City Traffic Engineer
JP/:G:\Group\director\Judy\Councii2014\Jan 27\LED Information Report.docx
Attachment A
>>>
Hello Mayor Peterson.
<•••lllllllll.!llllll.a>
10/31/2013 2:57PM>»
HELP! I live at 500 20th st ne and our neighbor hood has gone way dark with the installation of the LED
street lights. The cost saving on energy and proliferation of light. What was the 150 -200 watt street
lamps with the orange tint had a large illuminated FOOTPRINT on the ground is now just a mere spot of
WHITE illumination,good and bad. The GOOD, is the proliferation of stray light by having a flat globe and
directing the illumination down. The BAD is having a smaller illumination footprint. To correct this
problem to the illumination level prior the city's program you would have to start installing additional
street lamps to account for the lost illumination. I ask that you NOW drive my neighborhood 17th &
Chemeketa to 21st st ne to Center street, back to 17th st ne in the next couple of evenings. You will get
this is a VERY DARK area and not something the neighbors feel safe in as I have spoke to a few. Sorta
creepy!
Several other concerns that I have read up up over the years is the disruption in wildlife with lighting,
sleep patterns in humans to say a few. Now I do not think this was well thought out in disruptions to the
community. I'm for saving energy and Good effective lighting.This is all good but when I feel the SAFETY
of my neighborhood has been put in jeopardy with the lack of illumination on our streets i am going to
step up here.
The United States department of Transportation does not recommend lighting that interferes with drivers
visibility while driving. You see around Salem to will see mostly orange-ish tint to the lights and that's
because in the light spectrum the RED-ISH light is absorbed in moisture. Example of this is the orange
fog lights on a vehicle. Now WHITE light reflects, as a example on your droplet Iay-den windshield in
WHITE light it will be quite prevalent the drops and a loss of visibility. When I worked in the West Salem
neighborhood association as a committee member to widening of Wallace road back in the 90's, the
Oregon DOT brought to our committee the reports on haws street lighting would make a street safer. We
worked with Salem Electric soon learned about the benefits of flat globe lens and lack of proliferation of
light. IF you drive at night down Wallace road while it is raining you will have a better then average
visibility of street and sidewalks etc. What you won't see or little of, is water droplets in your view. I have
to admit it surely worked! Washington State DOT has now completed a program that has change EVERY
INTERSTATE 5 interchange street lamps to flat globe or called full cut-off fixtures as well as a change to
the new orange color illumination from Vancouver to Seattle. Here in Salem I worked with Alan Alexander
and Vickie Woods to get a light proliferation paragraph in the CC&Rs of the Mill Creek Industrial area.One
of the papers I wrote in college at Embry Riddle was the proliferation of ambient light. Here is a excellent
source of info at International Dark-sky association pertaining to stray light. Municipalities often use this
source of information. I would hope that the city would be more involved with the knowledge from DarkSky's website. Right now there is a great article about a cities street light program put on hold. I would
glad to sit down with you and talk. Please stop this program NOW!
Best Regards
•
20th st ne
-Original Message-From: ~!llllllilllllllllllllilllllllll!!!@
Date: 11/22/2013 7:21:3S PM
To:[email protected]
Subject: Other
Name: AlAN P'lllllllllllilll15
E-mail Address:
Account Number:
Service Address: -SUMMER ST SE SALEM, OR 97302
Daytime phone: ~llllllll!!!!!!!!!!!!l!!!f
Topic: Other -Street lights
Comment: These newly Installed LED Street lights In Salem SUCK! They may be brighter than the existing bulbs but, these
LEOs shine only DIRECTIONAL- they shine directly downward! That is no improvement compared to the previous bulbs that
Illuminated a "wider" area! I discovered this matter when I went outside to empty my garbage last night. I immediately
noticed that it was so dark that I thought the street light was out! When !looked, the street light was NOT out! It was an LED
replacement! That LED replacement has no AREA lighting coverage! You will put Salem in the "dark" if you continue to
replace the existing street lights with these LED lights! BAD move on PGE's part! My neighbors agree with me. I don't mind
Improvements as long as they don't have any drawbacks. These LED street lights have a definite drawback! I would
appreciate a response to my comments.
Wednesday, Jan 15, 2014 03:57PM
NEN
NORTHEAST NEIGHBORS
555 Liberty Street SE, Rm 305
Salem, OREGON 97301
(503) 588·6207
www.salemnen.org
November 22, 2013
Mayor Peterson and City Councilors,
Northeast Neighbors (NEN) supports the need for engineering to match the footprint of
light used for streets in order that the light is even and consistent for the safety of
pedestrians, cyclists and drivers.
Joan Lloyd, NEN Chair
Lighting Level Countour
Each area represents the same level of illuminatnce on the ground.
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