LED streetlights save City of Ottawa energy and money
Energy Ottawa, an affiliate of Hydro Ottawa, is collaborating with the City of Ottawa to convert 58,000 streetlights to LED technology by June 2020.
Once the LED conversion is complete, it is estimated that there will be a 55 per cent reduction in energy use, and the City of Ottawa is expected to save approximately $4 million annually (equivalent to removing 2,500 homes from the electricity grid).
Each LED streetlight has its own “wireless communication node” and IP address fully-connected to a wireless network. These nodes also allow Energy Ottawa to track each streetlight individually. All streetlight nodes are connected to one another, communicating and distributing data within the network. In addition, every LED light fixture can be individually controlled and illumination levels customized by location. For instance, the City of Ottawa has approved the use of warm colour temperature LEDs for residential areas, reducing the amount of light pollution.
Previously, City of Ottawa residents or night surveyors would have to report faulty streetlights and outages.
But through the new wireless network, each streetlight sends regular reports to Energy Ottawa regarding its condition, performance and energy usage. As a result, issues are immediately reported if a streetlight isn’t functioning properly, allowing Energy Ottawa to quickly dispatch maintenance crew to fix the issue.
The new LED system serves as a platform for other smart city initiatives in the future. A fitting project considering in 1885, Ottawa became the first city in the world to light all of its streets with electricity.
It is estimated that there will be a 55 per cent reduction in energy use, and the City of Ottawa is expected to save approximately $4 million annually (equivalent to removing 2,500 homes from the electricity grid).
