City cools it on red lights

Mathis Winkler

NEWPORT BEACH -- Concerned about California’s continuing energy

crisis, community activist Nancy Skinner has been working hard to do her

share.

She’s looked into replacing her refrigerator with a model that eats up

less power and bought so-called “green plugs” for herself and her

daughter, Susan Caustin, to reduce energy consumption on other household

appliances.

That move turned out to be somewhat counterproductive, causing $180 in

damage to Caustin’s dishwasher. Skinner said she’d also removed the

device from her dishwasher after it began acting up.

Skinner has replaced some of her light bulbs with less energy-thirsty

fluorescent ones. She’s still waiting for more information on whether

it’s more prudent to leave lights on rather than constantly turn them on

and off.

Recently reading a newspaper article about other cities that began

replacing the red traffic signal light bulbs with newer, more

energy-efficient fixtures, Skinner -- a regular at the city’s council and

committee meetings -- decided to pass on the idea to Deputy City Manager

Dave Kiff.

But the folks down at City Hall, it turned out, had already been way

ahead in the game.

“We are more than three-fourths of the way through our conversion

program,” wrote Don Webb, the city’s public works director, in a memo to

City Council members.

Since 1998, Webb’s department has been replacing existing incandescent

bulbs with light-emitting diodes to conserve power. While the old bulbs

ate up about 165 watts, the diodes consume only 10 watts.

So far, city workers have installed diodes in 900 traffic signals,

with 290 more scheduled for this year, Webb wrote. He added that all new

traffic signals also include the diodes.

Energy experts have singled out red lights for the same reason

impatient motorists can lose their temper while waiting at intersections.

They’re lit longer. The reds are on 59% of the time, with green lights on

for 38% and yellow bulbs shining for the remaining time.

While the diodes can cost as much as $75, compared to a few bucks for

regular bulbs, the money the city saves on energy will make up the

difference in less than three years, Webb wrote. He added that the diodes

come with a five-year warranty, which will also save the city replacement

costs.

Even financially plagued Southern California Edison has decided to

reward Newport Beach for its efforts. The company recently granted the

city a $17,915 rebate for buying the last round of diodes this year.

Skinner had nothing but praise for the city’s forward-thinking

leaders.

“I’m really proud of them,” she said, adding that City Hall itself had

also seemed much darker in recent weeks.