LED light upgrade to start in Paekākāriki next week

Paekākāriki is next in line to benefit from the Kāpiti Coast District Council’s switch to more energy-efficient street lighting.

Infrastructure Services Group Manager Sean Mallon says Council contractors have almost finished replacing sodium vapour street lamps in Ōtaki and Te Horo with new white light-emitting diode (LED) lights and will start work in Paekākāriki next week before moving into Waikanae.

“Converting the lights in Paekākāriki will start on Tuesday and should take three to four days, as long as the weather is favourable.

“People will notice a difference once the lamps have been replaced as LED lights omit a white light which can appear much brighter than the dull orange light you get from traditional street lamps,” said Mr Mallon. The light spill will be directed downwards to the road and footpath to help reduce any light pollution.”

The Council’s conversion to LED lights is being made possible as a result of a one-off Government subsidy. The NZ Transport Agency is contributing around 85 per cent of the estimated $1 million cost to convert to LED lights across the district.

LED lights provide better illumination and draw more than 50 per cent less power. They also have a much longer shelf life, around 20 years compared to four to five years for a sodium vapour street lamp, which means they don’t need to be replaced as often and the cost to run and maintain street lighting is reduced.