PETAWAWA, ON – Soaring electricity costs and environmental stewardship are the main driving forces behind the Town of Petawawa’s move to energy-efficient light emitting diodes (LED), currently underway. The LEDs will help reduce Petawawa’s energy costs by 68% and maintenance costs by 80% because LEDs last four times longer than the town’s existing streetlights. LEDs will also reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 48 metric tons per year, the equivalent of the carbon removed by more than 1,231 tree seedlings grown for ten years. Installation begins this week and is expected to be complete by the end of November.
“The Town of Petawawa is pleased to partner with RealTerm Energy and LAS to conduct an Investment Grade Audit and upgrade the Town’s street lighting to LED. By upgrading our existing inventory of streetlights to LED, Council has committed to: reducing our energy and maintenance budget; dramatically improving the quality of light offered to our residents; enhancing the natural environment by avoiding light trespass; and beautifying our community while boosting security,” announced Mayor Bob Sweet.
LEDs produce a clear, white light that improves night visibility and community safety. The white light provides better visibility for people on the roads while the targeted lighting reduces light pollution.
Petawawa’s Municipal Council chose RealTerm Energy and Ontario’s Local Authority Services (LAS) to act as project manager and installer. To date, over 130 Ontario municipalities have chosen RealTerm Energy and LAS to lead their LED streetlight upgrades including Arnprior, Barrie and Niagara Falls.
Project Overview
Total number of streetlights | 796 |
Estimated municipal energy cost savings per year | 68% |
Electrical consumption savings per year | 69% |
Annual Greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction | 48 metric tonnes - the equivalent of the GHG removed by more than 1,231 tree seedlings grown for ten years. |