(NC) Switching from incandescent lighting to LEDs in your home can decrease electricity use by up to 75 per cent, while the bulbs can last 35 to 50 times longer. Now, municipalities in Ontario are tapping into the same savings by switching their street lights from high intensity discharge lamps to LEDs.

LED replacements for street lights will typically last about three to five times longer than high intensity discharge lamps. They also use 40 to 60 per cent less energy. In 2015 and 2016, municipalities in Hydro One's service territory converted over 42,000 roadway lighting fixtures to LED, saving more than 81,469,000 kWh per year.

To make the switch easier for municipalities, the company offers an incentive program to fund up to 50 per cent of the replacement cost.

“Hydro One is here to help organizations uncover energy savings and reduce their monthly bills through retrofit incentives,” said Warren Lister, Vice President, Customer Service, Hydro One. “We work with businesses, hospitals, municipalities, schools and universities to identify areas for cost savings and provide a monetary incentive to upgrade.” 

Temiskaming Shores, a city in northeastern Ontario recently took part in the program, converting its roadway lighting to energy-efficient LEDs. The city could save more than 695,000 kWh per year and received an incentive of $118,123 to make the switch.

Attention editors: This article is for distribution in Ontario only.

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