Let there be light in Gatineau, LED light

Bulletin staff

In early November, city council voted to switch the current light bulbs to LEDs for 15,400 municipal street lights. As such, the colour of public street lights will change from a warm yellow tint to a cool blue colour.

This move is estimated to cost the city more than $10 million. However, the city is confident the switch will generate noteworthy savings over time.

Estimates evaluate annual savings of $1.1 million in energy and $400,000 in maintenance. Current operating costs are $1.5 million, yearly, for energy and close to $1 million in maintenance. LED lights have a longer lifespan than current bulbs, as much as 15 additional years. The switch to LED is common in many cities.

Marquis-Bissonnette raises concerns 

Most councillors support this change, mainly thanks to additional possibilities offered by this technology. During the presentation, Maude Marquis-Bissonnette, councillor for the Plateau, did share her worries about the negative consequences of LED lights for wildlife and possible negative effects for sleeping. Many cities are now struggling with “light pollution”, which has been measured to affect bird migration and mating habits, as well as urban wildlife. Negative effects of LED light on human sleep patterns and other human cyclic rhythms have become a significant concern in many neighbourhoods and cities.  The councillor called for vigilance, as did a few other councillors, meaning an on-going surveillance by the city of effects of the new lighting.