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Bright idear

| 30 Jan 2019 | 03:17
    This is an example of a LED street light found on RealTerm Energy's web site (www.realtermenergy.com). The firm will handled the conversion of the Town of Warwick's HID streetlights to LED, which the company says will save up to 75 percent of the annual operating costs.
    This is an example of a LED street light found on RealTerm Energy's web site (www.realtermenergy.com). The firm will handled the conversion of the Town of Warwick's HID streetlights to LED, which the company says will save up to 75 percent of the annual operating costs.

By Roger Gavan
WARWICK — RealTerm Energy, a company that has installed or is in the process of installing over 250,000 streetlights across North America, is partnering with the Town of Warwick to convert current HID (high intensity discharge) streetlights to LED (light emitting diode) technology.
"Continuing our efforts to reduce our energy costs and save money for our taxpayers," said Town of Warwick Supervisor Michael Sweeton, "the Town Board explored conversion of our 240 streetlights to high efficiency, low energy use LED lights."
According to RealTerm Energy, the conversion will result in an average reduction in energy consumption of 65 percent and 75 percent savings in annual operating costs.
Sweeton reported that the Town Board met with representatives of the New York Power Authority, a New York State public-benefit corporation, and RealTerm Energy, a private sector firm with extensive installations in the New England States as well as several in New York State.
"After weighing proposals from both companies and checking references," he said, "the Town Board made the decision to engage RealTerm Energy to handle our conversion."
The process started with negotiation with Orange & Rockland, the owner of the lights and the company that receives rent for their use from the town.
Sweeton and volunteers from Sustainable Warwick conducted an inventory of the lights and the current bulb type as well as wattage.
"Once a depreciated price was agreed upon," he said, "a contract was signed and sent to the Public Service commission who has to approve the purchase. We also approved a contract with RealTerm who will conduct their own survey of lights, their exact location and prepare bid documents to solicit a vendor to conduct the conversion which RealTerm will oversee."
The supervisor added that once completed, "the town will also have web-based control of light timing as well as intensity to further fine tune our energy use and costs. The Town Board is proud of continuing to make Warwick a leader in energy conservation."