Best Practice Action 4.3
GreenStep City Best Practices Buildings and Lighting
Efficient Outdoor Lighting and Signals No. 4
Improve the efficiency and quality of street lighting, traffic signals and outdoor public lighting.
Best Practice Action Detail
Best Practice Action 3
Replace the city's existing street lighting with Dark Sky-compliant LEDs, modifying any city franchise/utility agreement and adding smart grid attributes.
- Note that the Minnesota Buildings, Benchmarks and Beyond (B3) website allows cities to track energy use of street lighting whose electricity bills the city pays.
- LED outdoor lighting: barriers and solutions free-to-view webinar recorded in Jan 2017 features a U.S. DOE Policy Advisor discussing municipality-focused LED outdoor lighting conversion best practices and strategies based on real-world examples. [Applicable to 1, 2 and 3 Star implementation.]
- Franchise agreements represent a largely unused opportunity for municipalities to promote energy efficiency and renewable energy, and some franchise agreements even create disincentives for energy efficiency.
- The comprehensive listing of LED streetlight resources by CERTs covers paybacks, bulb longevity, light trespass, maintenance cost savings, total cost-savings calculators, research in Minnesota, 'how-to' manuals, specifications and more.
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Negotiate phased-in LED replacement of existing street lighting technology not owned by the city; replace 1/3 of lights. |
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Include in a utility franchise or contract mandatory lamp replacement with LEDs; assure all lighting is Dark-Sky compliant; replace 2/3 of lights; use B3 to track energy use of street lighting whose electricity bills the city pays. |
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Replace 100% of lights; estimate and report annual cost/energy/maintenance savings of replacements; report smart grid attributes of street lighting and light poles (such as auto/sensor dimming, video display panels). |
Who's doing it
Fridley -
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Implementation details:
The City of Fridley partnered with Xcel Energy to replace 870 overhead lights with Dark Sky-compliant LED lights in the City.
Outcome measures/metrics:
The changeout of 870 lights is expected to save 27,468.6 kilowatt hours of energy per month, which equals $482.52 off of the City's energy bill and 28,951.90 lbs of CO2 removed from the atmosphere monthly
Descriptive File: view file
Descriptive links:
For more information contact:
Rachel Workin (City staff) | rachel.workin@fridleymn.gov | 763-572-3594
Partners: Xcel Energy
Golden Valley -
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Implementation details:
The City has worked with Excel energy to change out all 558 standard cobrahead street lights with new energy efficient 3000k LEDs.
Outcome measures/metrics:
This action has saved up to 221,000 pounds of CO2 from entering the atmosphere per year, and saved the City 23% on its energy bill.
Descriptive File:
Descriptive links:
For more information contact:
Drew Chirpich (City staff) | dchirpich@goldenvalleymn.gov | 763-593-8044
Partners: Excel Energy
Marine on Saint Croix -
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Implementation details:
Xcel Energy replaced all 58 high pressure sodium street lights with LED equivalents (Feb 2017). 42 100 Watt HPSV were replaced with 39 Watt LED; 16 150 Watt HPSV were replaced with 65 Watt LED. Anticipated kWh savings = 1727/mo; CO2 lbs/kWh avoided = 1820/mo.
Outcome measures/metrics:
Descriptive File:
Descriptive links:
For more information contact:
Anne Reich (Community volunteer) | reichmn@gmail.com | 651-433-1341
Partners: Xcel Energy
New Germany -
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Implementation details:
Excel Energy upgraded the street lights to LED street lights.
Outcome measures/metrics:
More energy efficient
Descriptive File:
Descriptive links:
For more information contact:
Twyla Menth (City staff) | ngcityhall@gmail.com | 952-353-2488
Partners: Xcel
New Hope -
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Implementation details:
The city has replaced street lights with LED fixtures.
Outcome measures/metrics:
Descriptive File:
Descriptive links:
For more information contact:
Jeff Alger (City staff) | jalger@ci.new-hope.mn.us | 763-531-5119
Partners:
Nisswa -
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Implementation details:
We have switched all of our street lighting to dark sky compliant LEDs. The goal of this transition was to lower our energy usage and light pollution.
Outcome measures/metrics:
Descriptive File:
Descriptive links:
For more information contact:
Brittney Cotner (City Staff) | zoningadmin@ci.nisswa.mn.us | 2189632402
Partners:
Royalton -
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Implementation details:
All street lights within the City of Royalton are LED lights and meet our Outdoor Lighting ordinance for being Dark Sky compliant
Outcome measures/metrics:
All street lights within the City are LED and compliant with city Ordinance.
Descriptive File:
Descriptive links: https://www.royaltonmn.com/vertical/sites/%7BF29AE369-80CF-4CFB-BE87-851B6F04B18E%7D/uploads/Lighting__Ord._51.pdf
For more information contact:
Andrea Lauer (Elected official) | mayor@royaltonmn.com | 320-630-2229
Partners: MN Power
Marshall -
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Implementation details:
Marshall Municipal Utilities policy is to replace all street light fixtures with new energy efficient fixtures as part of it's planned electric system improvement project.
Outcome measures/metrics:
Nearly all of Marshall's Street lights have been replaced with new Dark-sky compliant energy efficient light fixtures as part of Marshall Municipal Utilities electric conversion project.
Descriptive File:
Descriptive links:
For more information contact:
Mark Antony (City staff) | MarkA@marshallutilities.com | (507) 537-7005
Partners: Marshall Municipal Utilities
Warren -
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Implementation details:
• City established a phased-in LED replacement of existing street lighting technology for city and non-city fixtures.
• Replaced 1/5 of street lighting with LED lighting; on pace to meet the 1 Star requirement by 04/2019
• Replaced 1/5 of street lighting with LED lighting; on pace to meet the 1 Star requirement by 04/2019
Outcome measures/metrics:
The City of Warren has an established policy to replace all streetlights with LED lighting as street project take place.
Descriptive File: view file
Descriptive links:
For more information contact:
Shannon Mortenson (City staff) | shannonm@warrenminnesota.com | 218-745-5343
Partners:
Rochester -
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Implementation details:
The city of Rochester, Minnesota, is poised to initiate a significant LED streetlight installation project on city roadways. The proposed project is intended to replace up to 300 to 400 existing 175 watt mercury vapor streetlights with LED streetlight fixtures. The project is funded by an award of $180,000 from the US Department of Energys Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) program combined with a 20% funding match from the municipal utility, Rochester Public Utility (RPU). RPU has budgeted a total of approximately $225,000 in funds for the purchase and installation of the new LED streetlights.
Outcome measures/metrics:
Descriptive File:
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For more information contact:
Partners:
Saint Anthony -
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Implementation details:
The City of St. Anthony and Xcel Energy annually review the technology available to replace the existing street lights with LED technology. Xcel Energy anticipates, within the next two years, the technology will be available and economical to justify the change-out.
Outcome measures/metrics:
Descriptive File:
Descriptive links:
For more information contact:
Jay Hartman (City staff) | jay.hartman@ci.saint-anthony.mn.us | 612-782-3314
Partners:
South Saint Paul -
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Implementation details:
The City of South St. Paul currently replaces all outdoor light fixtures in need of replacing with LED fixtures on all City owned buildings. While we do not have a formal policy, we find it to be a best practice, be energy efficient, and saving the City money in the long run. This takes place at City Hall, the Public Works facility, the SSP Public Library, the SSP Airport, the Doug Woog Arena and within the SSP Park’s system.
It fits into the City’s overall goal of sustainability and noting that the change is made at the time to replace which is not only more cost effective but less wasteful than immediately changing over all fixtures (including ones that currently work just fine).
It fits into the City’s overall goal of sustainability and noting that the change is made at the time to replace which is not only more cost effective but less wasteful than immediately changing over all fixtures (including ones that currently work just fine).
Outcome measures/metrics:
Descriptive File:
Descriptive links:
For more information contact:
Deb Griffith (City staff) | dgriffith@southstpaul.org | 651-554-3230
Partners:
Eagan -
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Implementation details:
This project is ongoing.
City tracks street light outages, when it was reported to utility, and when it was repaired. Per fee schedule, inefficient fixtures are replaced by utility company on a 10-year cycle.
City tracks street light outages, when it was reported to utility, and when it was repaired. Per fee schedule, inefficient fixtures are replaced by utility company on a 10-year cycle.
Outcome measures/metrics:
10-year cycle.
Descriptive File:
Descriptive links:
For more information contact:
Tim Plath (City staff) | tplath@cityofeagan.com | 651/675-5643
Partners:
Isanti -
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Implementation details:
As City street and park lights go out, they are being converted to energy efficient LED fixtures.
Outcome measures/metrics:
Descriptive File:
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For more information contact:
Sheila Sellman (City staff) | ssellman@cityofisanti.us | 763-444-5512
Partners: Connexus Energy
Kasson -
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Implementation details:
Incomplete: Researching replacement of inefficient Street Lighting. Are constructin a sample area for LED, Dark-Sky compliant street lighting to determine efficiency and to guage resident impressions.
Outcome measures/metrics:
Descriptive File:
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For more information contact:
Nancy Zaworski (City staff) | financedept@cityofkasson.com | 507-634-6321
Partners:
Maplewood -
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Implementation details:
Most of the street lights within the city of Maplewood are owned by Xcel but are maintained and operated by the city. These Xcel owned lights are not LED. There are pilot programs in place to help facilitate replacement of inefficient street lighting with LED lights but Maplewood has not been offered a position in one of these programs. Some city owned lighting near city parks e.g. Goodrich park, does contain higher efficiency high pressure sodium lights that do meet some dark sky compliance regulations from 2009. The city will continue to try and work with light providers to become on city involved in LED lighting pilots or early LED lighting roll-outs for street lighting that is dark sky compliant.
Outcome measures/metrics:
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For more information contact:
Steve Love (City staff) | steve.love@maplewoodmn.gov | 651-249-2404
Partners:
Roseville -
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Implementation details:
All city signals have been converted to LED lights
Outcome measures/metrics:
Descriptive File:
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For more information contact:
Ryan Johnson (City staff) | Ryan.johnson@cityofroseville.com | 651-792-7049
Partners:
Saint Paul -
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Implementation details:
There have been discussions along the line of facilitating rapid replacement of inefficient street lighting with Dark Sky-compliant LEDs, modifying any city franchise/utility agreement and adding smart grid attributes, but no decisions have been made. Utility has recently offered Rebate incentives that are independent of the franchise agreement that will act as an incentive.
Outcome measures/metrics:
Descriptive File:
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For more information contact:
Kurt Schultz (City staff) | kurt.schultz@ci.stpaul.mn.us | 651-266-6590
Partners:
Shoreview -
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Implementation details:
Not yet, but it was a recommendation that the City negotiate a flat rate for LED Streetlight Electricity Prices with Xcel Energy in attached report. Xcel Energy does not yet have an agreement available but is working on a test project with another metro City to come up with LED rates.
Outcome measures/metrics:
Descriptive File:
Descriptive links: http://www.shoreviewmn.gov/pdfs/resources/sustainable-shoreview/energy-efficiency.pdf
For more information contact:
Ellen Brenna (City staff) | ebrenna@shoreviewmn.gov | 651-490-4665
Partners:
Greenstep Advisor
Susan Zarling, Traffic Electrical Systems Engineer, MN Dept. of Transportation: 651/234-7052, susan.zarling@state.mn.us