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.
- 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
East Grand Forks -
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed: 2021
Implementation details:
Effective 2021, East Grand Forks Water and Light Department converted all of its residential, commercial, and industrial streetlights into LEDs. This was a capital project that started in 2015
Outcome measures/metrics/money saved:
Descriptive File: view file
Descriptive links:
For more information contact:
Kevin Hatcher (City Staff) | khatcher@egf.mn | 218-773-1163
Partners:
Fridley -
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed: 2018
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/money saved:
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:
Year action initially completed: 2018
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/money saved:
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:
Year action initially completed: 2/17
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/money saved:
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:
Year action initially completed: 2016
Implementation details:
Excel Energy upgraded the street lights to LED street lights.
Outcome measures/metrics/money saved:
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:
Year action initially completed:
Implementation details:
The city has replaced street lights with LED fixtures.
Outcome measures/metrics/money saved:
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:
Year action initially completed: 2019
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/money saved:
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:
Year action initially completed: 2018
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/money saved:
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
Shorewood -
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed: 2019
Implementation details:
Xcel Energy is in charge of the street lights in Shorewood. All street lights have been converted by Xcel to dark sky-compliant LED bulbs.
Outcome measures/metrics/money saved:
Descriptive File:
Descriptive links:
For more information contact:
Julie Moore (City staff) | jmoore@ci.shorewood.mn.us | 952.960.7906
Partners:
Duluth -
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed: 2013
Implementation details:
Between 2013 and 2018 Duluth replaced the majority of their standard street lights with LEDs. In 2016 an additional project was done to install LED bulbs in all decorative fixtures in areas such as Canal Park and along the Lake Walk. Replacing all corn cob lights with LEDs began in 2017 and is nearly complete. All lighting purchased is Dark Sky compliant per city policy.
Minnesota Power has been replacing their burnt out sodium light fixtures in the city with LEDs since 2015, and recently announced that they would switch from installing 4000K LEDs to softer 2700K LEDs.
Minnesota Power has been replacing their burnt out sodium light fixtures in the city with LEDs since 2015, and recently announced that they would switch from installing 4000K LEDs to softer 2700K LEDs.
Outcome measures/metrics/money saved:
Descriptive File:
Descriptive links:
For more information contact:
Alex Jackson, Energy Coordinator (City staff) | ajackson@DuluthMN.gov | 218-730-4433
Partners:
Marshall -
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed:
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/money saved:
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
Shakopee -
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed: 2021
Implementation details:
The City and SPUC have phased-in LED Dark Sky compliant replacements of streetlights over time, most streetlights have been replaced.
Outcome measures/metrics/money saved:
The vast majority of streetlights have been replaced with LEDs and are Dark Sky compliant; will be tracked in B3 in the future.
Descriptive File:
Descriptive links:
For more information contact:
Andrew Boucher (City Staff) | aboucher@shakopeemn.gov | 952-233-9347
Partners: Shakopee Public Utilities Commission
Two Harbors -
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed: 2020
Implementation details:
Purchased and replaced 30 LED Security Lights and 30 Green Cobra Jr Street Lights to improve energy efficiency.
Outcome measures/metrics/money saved:
Descriptive File:
Descriptive links:
For more information contact:
Jennifer Sterbenz (City Staff) | jsterbenz@twoharborsmn.gov | 218-834-8804
Partners:
Warren -
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed: 2017
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/money saved:
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:
Year action initially completed:
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/money saved:
Descriptive File:
Descriptive links:
For more information contact:
Partners:
Saint Anthony -
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed:
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/money saved:
Descriptive File:
Descriptive links:
For more information contact:
Jay Hartman (City staff) | jay.hartman@ci.saint-anthony.mn.us | 612-782-3314
Partners:
Saint Paul -
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed:
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/money saved:
Descriptive File:
Descriptive links:
For more information contact:
Kurt Schultz (City staff) | kurt.schultz@ci.stpaul.mn.us | 651-266-6590
Partners:
South Saint Paul -
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed:
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/money saved:
Descriptive File:
Descriptive links:
For more information contact:
Deb Griffith (City staff) | dgriffith@southstpaul.org | 651-554-3230
Partners:
Greenstep Advisor
Susan Zarling, Traffic Electrical Systems Engineer, MN Dept. of Transportation: 651/234-7052, susan.zarling@state.mn.us