FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 22, 2022

City of Kingston Releases LED Report

KINGSTON, NY – Mayor Steven T. Noble is pleased to release the City of Kingston Energy and Cost Savings Analysis for the LED Street Lighting Project.

Following the City of Kingston’s first Climate Action Plan, several energy saving measures were implemented across the City to reduce fossil fuel use and greenhouse gas emissions. These measures included LED lighting upgrades and the removal of high energy-consuming items from the City’s portfolio. Since launching the initiative, 100% of the City’s 2400+ streetlights, 60% of the traffic signals and 100% of the City’s office buildings, community centers, and firehouses have received LED upgrades, including the Wastewater Treatment Plant, the Department of Public Works, and City Hall.

The Energy and Cost Savings Analysis, which focuses on the Streetlights and Signals, found that both the LED Street Lighting and the Traffic Signal Conversion projects have had significant impacts on the City’s energy use, as well as operating costs. Average cost savings are anticipated to increase in the coming years following the initial upgrades. LED fixtures have a lifespan 25x that of less efficient models, and will result in up to 90% overall energy savings throughout their lifetime. The LED project will not only lead to savings from purchased electricity, but also cost savings from replacement of fixtures and reduced maintenance.

“We are proud of the work we’ve done to reduce citywide energy consumption and provide cost savings to the residents of City of Kingston,” said Mayor Noble. “I thank the Environmental Education & Sustainability Coordinator and her team, and our Department of Public Works, and in particular our Electrician, for all their work on this important project that will provide the City – and taxpayers – benefits for years to come. This is one step in reaching our long-term future environmental goals for the City.”

“The City of Kingston began the process of evaluating our street lighting in 2014 and worked closely with the Mid-Hudson Streetlight Consortium for several years, along with other municipalities in the region, to procure our street lights from Central Hudson to retrofit our streetlights to LED.  In 2020, this project was completed.” said Julie Noble, Environmental Education & Sustainability Coordinator. “Cost and energy use data from this report provides the City of Kingston with the information necessary to increase operational efficiently, effectively use taxpayer resources, and inform further energy conservation policy and program development. These efforts have critical public safety, economic and environmental benefits, making our community more resilient while saving money.”

The City of Kingston continues to set progressive targets for energy reduction through strategic efforts focusing on energy conservation and sustainable operations. Municipal electricity use is forecasted to continue to decrease as these and other projects are implemented. The City’s 2030 Climate Action Plan includes ambitious goals to be achieved for reductions in energy use, as well as strategies to reach those goals.

City staff regularly evaluates the operation of traffic intersections to evaluate additional signal removals. More info at: https://www.kingston-ny.gov/Sustainability