Sustainability in West Windsor is moving forward: PSE&G began installing energy-saving street lights, and it comes at no cost to the township.
According to PSE&G officials, the company is replacing the less efficient mercury vapor municipal street lights with new induction fluorescent lights. The new fixtures can last up to 100,000 hours before they need maintenance, use 30 to 40 percent less electricity, and contain significantly less mercury than the mercury vapor units they are replacing.
PSE&G has said it will invest $50 million to provide the energy-efficient street lighting to the 220 municipalities in its service area. The lighting change-out is part of a $700 million capital program designed to stimulate the economy and provide jobs over two years by accelerating electric and gas infrastructure projects.
When completed, the replacement program will save municipalities an estimated $1 million annually, as well as create a reduction of an estimated 21,000 tons of CO2 gases and 45,000 megawatt hours.
This is not the first sustainable venture PSE&G has had within the township. In December the Township Council approved the purchase of more than $17,000 worth of light fixtures for the municipal building and senior center that are estimated to reduce the township’s impact on the environment and save the township money in the future.
The approval came as a result of an energy audit that PSE&G conducted through its Small Business Direct Install Program, which is free for PSE&G businesses and governments that use under 200 kilowatt hours of energy.
West Windsor had to pay only 20 percent of the actual cost of doing the upgrade, with PSE&G picking up the other 80 percent.
