HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/18/1997, C-4 - CONVERSION OF TRAFFIC SIGNALS TO LED LAMPS council i 2 7
j apenaa Repoin
C I T Y OF SAN LUIS OBISPO
FROM: Mike McCluskey,Public Works Director
Prepared By: Gary Keavney,Signal Maintenance Electrician
Joe McDermott,Street Maintenance Supervisor
David Elliott,AdministrativeAnalystt 2 ,/
SUBJECT: Conversion of Traffic Signals to LED Lamps
CAO RECOMMENDATIONS
1) Award a purchase order in the amount of$40,198.37 to Synchronex for traffic signal LED
lamps
2) Provide$40,200.00 for acquisition of traffic signal LED lamps by appropriating$10,800
from a PG&E rebate and$29,400 from the unappropriatedbalance of the general fund
DISCUSSION
For about two years Public Works has closely monitored development of light emitting diode
(LED)lamps for use in traffic signals. LED technology has improved enough that the City now
specifies red and orange LED lamps for new signal installations,but high initial prices have
prevented Public Works from justifying a conversion of existing signals to LED lamps. Because of
the short term availability of volume purchasing and utility rebates,though,Public Works is now
recommending a project to replace 339 incandescent traffic signal lamps with light emitting diode
(LED)lamps.
The City's traffic signals now use light from incandescent lamps projected through colored lenses.
At least six companies manufacture traffic signal lamps composed of several LEDs(which are most
commonly seen on digital displays for calculators,electronic equipment,and appliances.) These
LED lamps replace incandescent lamps and lenses in existing traffic signals and provide
remarkably lower electricity consumption and much longer service life. For example,a 12-inch
diameter red incandescent lamp(called a"red ball')draws 136 watts of electricity and lasts about
one year. By contrast,a 12-inch diameter red LED lamp draws only 14 watts of power and lasts
about ten years.
The LED lamps also offer two important safety features:
1) Although one or more of the individual diodes within a lamp may bum out,the other diodes
will continue operating. On an incandescent lamp,if the single bulb burns out,the lamp
will not operate until the bulb is replaced.
2) Because of the low power demand,it is feasible to run LED lamps on backup battery power
during extended electrical outages.
Council Agenda Report-Conversion of Traffic Signals to LED Lamps
Page 2
The City of San Diego recently solicited competitive bids for 13,745 LED lamps and awarded a
contract to Synchronex. Contract provisions allow other cities to tag onto this high-volume
acquisition and purchase LED lamps at the same low unit prices. To verify the superiority of these
prices,Public Works solicited informal quotations from two other manufacturers of LED lamps.
The lower of these two quotations was 32 percent higher than the price from Synchonex.
As a bonus,PG&E offers rebates on various sizes of LED lamps purchased and installed before
June 30, 1998. Rebate applications must be submitted before November 30, 1997.
Public Works proposes converting the following lamps,at locations where operating characteristics
offer a reasonable payback period:
108 12-inch red balls
93 8-inch red balls
41 12-inch red arrows
97 orange hand signs(on pedestrian signals)
In addition,Public Works proposes buying two additional lamps of each type as spares.
Green balls and arrows are not feasible to convert because cost is too high and proper color
rendition has not been perfected. Amber balls and arrows are not feasible because they do not stay
lighted long enough to accumulaterequired energy savings.
There is a 90 day delivery period,so the new lamps would arrive in late February or early March
1998. The Signal Maintenance Electrician in Public Works would install the new LED lamps
during the months of March through June 1998,when the incandescent bulbs are scheduled for
annual preventive maintenance replacement. Estimated total installation time would be 100 hours.
FISCAL EUPACT
Lamp Acquisition Price $ 40,198.37
Rebate Amount $ 10,800.00
Net Project Cost $ 29,398.37
Annual Cost Savings $ 20,913.00
Simple Payback Period 1.4 Years
Although the project appropriationwill lower the general fund balance by a small amount,the long
term savings and very short payback period j ustify making this investment in improved technology
at this time.
Attachments
Attachment A -Calculation of Net Project Cost
Attachment B-Calculation of Annual Cost Savings Conversion of Traffic Signals to LED ramps
C 2
Attachment A
Calculation of Net Project Cost
Conversion of Traffic Signals to LED Lamps
Lamp Acquisition Price:
Unit Extended
Number * Price Price
12" Red Ball 110 $ 114.50 $ 12,595.00
8" Red Ball 95 $ 75.00 $ 7,125.00
12" Red Arrow 43 $ 70.00 $ 3,010.00
Orange Hand 99 $ 149.00 $ 14,751.00
Subtotal $ 37,481.00
Sales Tax $ 2,717.37
Total Lamp Acquisition Price $ 40,198.37
* includes two spares for each lamp type
Rebate:
Unit Extended
Rebate Rebate
Number Amount Amount
12" Red Ball 110 $ 40.00 $ 4,400.00
8" Red Ball 95 $ 30.00 $ 2,850.00
12" Red Arrow 43 $ 25.00 $ 1,075.00
Orange Hand 99 $ 25.00 $ 2,475.00
Total Rebate $ 10,800.00
Net Project Cost(after rebate) $ 29,39837
C. y-3
64 �
DA 'C O O 00 C co Oh kn k° C R O� O+ go
N
60106 H4
O = 09 N9
X X X X + X
t N O N On m r O C C' � �
= w ° o o v — �= Ge 69
N ¢ 609 rjo�
' X X X X + X
s — O O N Vq N M O — N 0+
o0 0: m C O h n fi�14 6N9
X X X X + X
Q y t 0 0 N �'N1 O 'T C
O T O
w fl N
•� V C w R O O vi N — 7 N69
L m v1 _� — — N O vi Oo
N C N � 7 O C O; V1
mC O h— N O N fiq 6'9
69 4R
V •� O
VX X X X + X
i
C
O _
U V v N N N m � N p N
= o i0 O C 4n V4
X X X X X
o.
00
_ T —
c �
C i eC R
° y C C
v _ a •� c �
m Q
oocc
0.
U
e ami _ ., °� w m
_ w o C r-
0
w vS
In. C. m y
y G
a a W CO m Y ° �' 3 9 C
Cq c
v� m m Q is a m
a o C c E q e m
� a` 3 3 � ¢ a z'
NVING
•
1199 N. Fifth Street, San Jose,CA 95112
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN
Synchronex has received a large order from the City of San Diego, California. This order
is for LED Traffic Signal Retrofit units as shown below. One of the contract requirements
is that we must off the same prices to governmental agencies located in San Diego
County. Our source of supply, Ecolux Inc., is allowing us to offer these same prices to
other governmental agencies located anywhere in California, if those agencies are
planning on a citywide replacement program. .
If you are considering using LED traffic signal heads, we encourage you to participate in
this "one time" opportunity. It is my understanding that governmental agencies have the
authority to "piggyback" on other governmental agency contracts.
Please note that the City of San Diego is using the financial services of Pitney-Bowes
Credit Corporation, on a lease-purchase contract. Let us know if you would like any
details on this type of financing.
The following are the unit prices agreed to in the City of San Diego contract:
12" Red Ball LED retrofit signal $114.50 each ' _ '2
12" Red Arrow LED retrofit signal $ 70.00 each . � 3
8" Red Ball LED retrofit signal $ 75.00 each
The following delivery, terms-and conditions apply to any purchase made on this offer:
Delivery: 60-90 days ARO 1 /f
Terms: 1%-21 days, net 30 days -4
F.O.B.: Destination, freight prepaid, and allowed. f—
Please contact the undersigned on this offer.
Sincerely,
Marie L. Girardot /�, a r 12
Sales Representative
1
syr
Telephone: (408) 275-8392-------"x: (408) 275-8396