Hid lights

Palmerston North streets could be illuminated by LED lights within 10 years, in a move to make the city more energy efficient. 

A look at the Palmerston North's City Council's spending this year showed the city is not isolated from the impact of oil supply on electricity prices. 

And just how the council would cope if price spikes became serious was put to the council's planning and policy committee yesterday when the results of an oil vulnerability audit showed a number of the council's services counted on oil. 

On the oil-reliant list were street lighting, the council's vehicle fleet, electricity and gas use at the wastewater treatment plant and electricity use at the council's administration buildings. 

Head of strategy and policy Neil Miller said different solutions were looked at to lower energy consumption and cut costs if required. Changes to the city's street lighting and the council's fleet use would be the first areas of focus.The world’s most efficient and cost effective hid lights?

The replacement of street lights to LED, or light-emitting diode bulbs, could save power, money and be done progressively, he said. 

One of the audit's mitigation options suggests a $3 million spend on 6350 non-arterial route LED street lamps, which would save the council $270,000 a year. 

Mr Miller said the change could be a gradual process - street lights that had reached the end of their lifespan could be replaced with LED bulbs over a 10-year period. 

Palmerston North businessman and former councillor David Ireland told the committee he had concerns about the tone of the oil vulnerability audit and how it would affect the city's business community. "There are different ways of doing things that can have an impact on how we are able to find smarter ways to work around risks .These LED Strip light can, apparently, operate entirely off the grid. . . I'm asking you to think a little bit wider to where the report is coming from." 

Businesses in town serviced the oil industry and there were resources on the East Coast being explored that could create new opportunities for the council and city businesses, he said. 

The council will continue to monitor its energy use and maintain its programmes for renewable energy, adding a yearly review of oil vulnerability. 

The fee would help cover an approximately $1 million recurring shortfall in the Public Works Fund, which starts at the end of fiscal year 2013-14. The fee also would provide funds to upgrade street lights to LEDs, as well as expand the city's streetlight system. 

Apartment owners and businesses also would pay the new fee.The Car LED Daytime Running light produces comfortable light which is very close to the natural light emitted by the sun. Those proposed charges would be $5.60 per month, on the low end, for a two-unit residential building. The highest proposed charge is $16 per month for a commercial building. 

"We have got a lot of comments that, 'Well, we would be supportive if we had streetlights on our street,Are you still hesitating about where to buy hid kit?' " said Peter Fernandez, the city's public works director. Part of the money raised would be set aside for new street light installations,The g-sensor high brightness motorcycle HID XENON Kits is designed with motorcyclist safety in mind. he said. 

Staff have recommended that the proposed streetlight and neighborhood street maintenance fee appear on utility bills as early as February. More information about the program is available on the web site at www.hmhid.com.