Energy Efficiency, GHG Emissions, Utilities  -  October 8, 2024

City of Boulder Converts to More Efficient Streetlights

The City of Boulder has completed the acquisition of over 4,400 streetlights to improve financial resilience and help the city achieve its climate targets and transportation goals.

Transitioning to high-quality streetlights will offer better efficiency, reliability and cost savings while reducing pollution from light and electricity generation. The streetlights were acquired from Xcel Energy. 

Beginning in 2025, the city will start converting existing fixtures and lights to LEDs, reducing operation and maintenance costs by up to $1 million annually while lowering the city's carbon emissions by about 1,000 metric tons annually.

The conversion will provide new, customized features to Boulder, including the following:

• Smart technology with automated real-time outage reporting to improve response times and support preventative maintenance.
• Adjustable lighting for low-traffic periods to improve visibility and safety, allow for further light pollution reductions and increase energy savings.
• New dark-sky-friendly light fixtures to focus light where it is needed and reduce spillover affecting night-sky viewing and wildlife, such as migratory birds.

“This investment highlights the city’s commitment to responsibly managing vital infrastructure while ensuring the thoughtful stewardship of community funds,” said City Manager Nuria Rivera-Vandermyde in a statement. “We aim to lead by example in adopting innovative, quality technologies that support the natural environment, fund sustainability, and prioritize the wellbeing of community members who travel and reside in Boulder.”

The purchase is funded by the Community, Culture, Resilience and Safety Tax. Anticipated operational and maintenance savings will support streetlight upkeep and potentially be reinvested in future transportation projects. The Transportation & Mobility Department has also repurposed $755,400 in the 2025 budget to manage and maintain the newly acquired streetlights.

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