A veteran city councillor has a bright idea to save taxpayers money.
Coun. Bill Hanson is investigating the feasibility of switching city light posts and public facilities to low-cost LED lighting.
“It’s not off the table,” said Hanson, who first mentioned the idea more than a year ago.
Hanson said the city has made inquiries to LED lighting companies but has yet to hear back.
While at a municipal government conference in Vancouver last year, Hanson spoke with a representative from such a company.
Working with this particular company, the city would not pay a dime until it sees savings on its electricity bill.
The city would then pay the company out of those savings until the cost of the lights and installation is fully covered.
If a city’s power bill is $10,000 a month, for instance, and the LED lights bring that amount down to $9,000, the city would pay the company $1,000 a month until the full cost is met.
In the end, the city would get new lighting and lower bills – all without paying any more than it would have without switching to LED.
Addressing his fellow councillors last year, Hanson said he was told it typically takes three to five years for a municipality to pay off the lights.
He said any new lighting the city installs on its own is LED.
