Maui Energy-Saving Streetlight Installations Starting in November

Before and After Photos. PC: Maui Electric Company.

Maui Electric Company, in partnership with the County of Maui’s Department of Public Works, will begin installing approximately 4,800 new energy-saving fixtures for county-funded streetlights in November.

The light-emitting diode or LED streetlight fixtures will replace current high pressure sodium bulbs in streetlights, saving the County in energy costs.

The first phase includes approximately 1,889 fixtures and will take place along various roadways in Kahului, Wailuku, Waiehu, Kahakuloa, Kailua to Hāna, and Olowalu to Lahaina until February 2019.

Minimal traffic impact is expected during the installations and electrical service to the affected areas is not expected to be interrupted. Pedestrian traffic on sidewalks may be detoured during installations.

“We will also receive rebates from Hawai‘i Energy for this installation, which will provide lighting that provides better color rendition, is safer for pedestrians, and minimizes blue light power output,” said David Goode, director of the County of Maui Department of Public Works. “The technology will also allow for future implementation to enable a fully controllable network to track outages, reduce power when warranted, or turn individual lights off completely say for turtle nesting.”

A second installation phase of approximately 2,931 fixtures of county-funded streetlights is slated to start in early 2019 covering West Maui, Mā‘alaea to Mākena, Upcountry Maui, Ha‘ikū, Kū‘au, Spreckelsville, Moloka‘i, and Lāna‘i.

LEDs are one of the most energy-efficient types of lighting, using a fraction of power compared to other types of lights. LEDs also typically have a longer life span which should reduce long-term maintenance of the lights.

Maui Electric services and maintains more than 7,000 state-, county- and privately-funded streetlights on Maui, Lāna‘i, and Moloka‘i. The installation of the energy-saving streetlights fixtures are the result of a pilot LED streetlight project Maui Electric and the Department of Public Works collaboratively developed and launched in 2016.

The pilot involved the installation of LED streetlight fixtures along Maui Lani Parkway in Kahului to test and evaluate various types of LED lights. Opportunities for stakeholders, law enforcement and community organizations to share feedback on the characteristics of the different lighting, such as glare and visual acuity, were also provided during the pilot.

“It’s important for us to work together with partners like the County of Maui to continually look for ways to use less energy to help cut energy costs that are greatly affected by the fluctuating cost of imported fuel,” said Sharon Suzuki, president of Maui Electric. “The county-wide installation of these energy-efficiency light bulbs is a great example of how we can all make small changes at home or work to help reduce our overall energy consumption and save money.”

For questions about the installations, the public can call the County’s Department of Public Works at 270-7845. For more information on how to use energy more efficiently at work and at home, see www.mauielectric.com/save-energy-and-money.