Brighter days for Valley Stream

The village board approved more than $4 million in energy-related contracts last month in an effort to cut down on costs and enhance street lighting across Valley Stream.

The village became the second entity in the area to agree to an energy performance contract with Johnson Controls. The Village of Lynbrook inked a similar deal in 2011.

The estimated cost of the project is about $3.7 million. The village will take out a loan, and the total cost would come to about $4.5 million with interest. However, Thomas Burke of Johnson Controls told the Herald while the contract was being discussed that there would be no additional cost to taxpayers because the yearly payment would come from the energy cost savings to the village. Also, he said, the first payment would not be due until the village has benefitted from a full year of energy savings.

The biggest part of the project will be replacing all of the village’s 2,485 street lights with LED lights. LEDs use significantly less energy than the current street lights, which take high-pressure sodium bulbs. According to Burke, Johnson Controls will make the replacements with company employees, or hire substitutes when needed.

Village Building Superintendent Tom McAleer said since LED lights have a longer lifespan — about 23 years — when compared to the current street lights, it will cut down on replacement and labor costs. A typical street light runs for about 4,000 hours per year and is attached to an existing telephone pole.

According to Burke, the village will save about 54 percent on its street lighting costs annually. Village Treasurer Mike Fox said the village spends between $525,000 and $550,000 annually on electricity, which includes street lights and all village’s buildings and facilities.

In addition to the street lights, other projects will include new lighting at the Public Works garage, weather stripping around doors at several buildings, various heating system upgrades and solar panels on the roof of the John Smith Bandshell.