How Much Does a Street Light Cost?

A question that often comes up in the conversation about street lighting is, “How much does a street light cost?” This question is critical to the many parties involved. City planners need to consider these costs when designing new infrastructure; municipalities must take them into account when budgeting for the initial installation and ongoing maintenance of street lights; and even in some cases, property owners who are responsible for lighting specific areas are interested in the costs involved. The cost of street lights is not fixed, however, and can vary significantly depending on a number of factors, including the type of streetlight, whether it is a replacement or a new installation, and the ongoing operating costs.
 

How much does it cost to replace street lights?

Replacing HID with LED lights

Replacing high pressure sodium (HID) street lights with light emitting diode (LED) street lights is a popular and cost-effective option. The main reason for this is that the process essentially involves only replacing the fixture.LED street lights can cost between $150 and $500. The price difference is affected by a number of factors, such as brand, lumens (brightness), and energy consumption. For example, LED street lights from well-known brands with high lumen output and low energy consumption may be at the higher end of the price range. In addition to the cost of the fixture, the cost of installation labor also needs to be considered. Installation labor costs typically range from $200 to $300. Combining these two costs, the average total cost of replacing HID street lights with LED street lights is about $400 to $800.
 

Replacing HID with solar LED street light

The cost of replacing HID street lights with solar-powered LED street light modules is comparable to the cost of installing brand new solar street lights. The main reason behind this has to do with pole construction. Traditional HID poles are not designed to support solar panels. Depending on the type of solar technology, the solar panels are either mounted on top of the pole or surrounded by the pole. Since the existing HID poles are not adapted to these solar panels, they must be removed and replaced with new poles that are suitable for solar energy. As a result, the cost of this replacement is between $3,000 and $4,000.
 

Replacing traditional LED with solar LED street light

When replacing traditional grid-powered LED street lights with standalone solar LED modules, certain components require special attention. While other parts of the streetlight, such as the pole and wiring, will need to be replaced, the existing LED fixture can usually be retained. However, installation costs are similar to those for a brand new solar streetlight, as the installation process is largely the same. The cost of this replacement typically ranges from $2,500 to $3,500.
 

How much does it cost to install street lights?

HID street lights

Installing brand new HID street lights is more affordable than some of the other options, costing between $1,500 and $2,500. However, it is important to note that HID street lights have some drawbacks. When it comes to energy consumption, they are a high-energy type. This means that over time, the cost of electricity to run these street lights can be quite high. Additionally, their lifespan is not as long as that of LED street lights.HID street lights may require more frequent maintenance and replacement, which can also lead to higher costs in the long run.
 

LED street lights

LED street lights typically cost between $2,500 and $3,500 to install. This includes labor costs, which typically range from $500 to $800 and can be as high as $1,000 in some cases. Although LED street lights have a higher upfront cost than HID street lights, they can provide significant savings in the long run.LED are at least five times more energy efficient than HID lights. This means that over the course of their use, LED street lights consume less power, saving users significant money on their electric bills. Additionally, LED street lights have a very long lifespan, typically 50,000 to 100,000 hours, which reduces the hassle and cost of replacing fixtures frequently.
 

Solar LED street lighting

Solar LED street lights are fast becoming a favorite among urban planners due to a number of significant advantages. Its fast return on investment and zero operating costs are especially noteworthy at a time when energy transition and sustainable development are in the spotlight. So what is the price range for solar street lights? According to the most recent in-depth and comprehensive market assessment, each solar streetlight unit costs between $3,000 and $4,000, with installation costs typically accounting for $1,000.

The street light is unique in its principle of operation, as it completely eliminates the need to rely on an external power source. A carefully designed solar panel efficiently collects solar energy and converts it into electricity, which is stored in an accompanying battery. The stored electricity will provide sufficient power for the street lights when night falls, ensuring good lighting for the roads at night. Although in the initial stage of the project, compared with traditional street lights, solar street lights, the initial investment is relatively high, need to invest a one-time investment of a considerable amount of money for the purchase and installation of equipment.

However, from the long-term time span and costing point of view, its advantages will be revealed. By eliminating the need to pay high electricity bills that traditional street lights require, municipalities can save a considerable amount of money over time. In a medium-sized city, for example, a large-scale replacement with solar street lights could save millions of dollars annually in electricity costs. Not only that, but solar energy is a clean energy source that produces no harmful pollutants or carbon emissions during its use. Every solar street light put into use means a solid step forward in reducing the city's carbon emissions, which is highly compatible with the concept of sustainable development actively advocated by the world at present, and helps the city to move towards the direction of green, environmental protection and livability.
 

How much do street light poles cost?

The average cost of a street light pole is between $1,500 and $4,000 (this price does not include installation labor). There are four main factors that affect the cost of a street light pole:

Materials

This includes the cost of the actual LED street light pole and all related components. Also consider the cost of the equipment and tools needed to install the pole. Installers often need to use expensive equipment such as lifts, which tends to increase the cost of installation for contractors. For example, some light poles made of special materials or designs may be more expensive in their own right and have more stringent equipment requirements during installation, resulting in higher total costs.
 

Labor

Labor costs account for a higher percentage of the overall process. Street light installation projects usually require the involvement of several experienced and skilled laborers. Wages for these workers vary depending on factors such as location, experience level, and hours worked. Generally, skilled workers are paid a relatively high hourly rate, and installing street lights requires a certain amount of time and effort, all of which can lead to increased labor costs.
 

Energy consumption

For most cities, the energy consumption of running street lights is an important factor. Different types of street lights consume different amounts of energy, and energy consumption is directly related to long-term operating costs. Therefore, cities carefully weigh the impact of different energy sources when choosing streetlight poles. For example, some energy-efficient pole designs may utilize more advanced electrical systems to reduce energy consumption, and while such poles may be more costly to purchase, they can save significant amounts of money on electricity bills in the long run.
 

Maintenance

Maintenance costs include fixing streetlight problems caused by wear and tear, environmental factors, the passage of time, or accidents that may occur. It also covers routine maintenance such as changing bulbs, cleaning, and checking electrical wiring. The maintenance needs of light poles vary depending on the material and the environment in which they are used. For example, metal light poles may be more prone to rusting in wet environments and require more frequent rust prevention treatments and inspections, which increases maintenance costs.Labor costs for installing streetlight poles typically average $800, but this can vary depending on the city in which they are located.
 

How much does it cost to run street lights?

Energy costs

Using LED street lights as an example, for a 1-kilometer two-lane road with poles spaced 40 meters apart, using 100-watt LED street lights and mounted in the middle of the road, a total of 25 poles would be needed. The average cost of electricity was found to be $0.32 per kWh. According to the calculation, the running cost of this street light is (50 x 100 x 0.32) ÷ 1000 = 1.6 USD/hour/km. If you calculate the operating cost of one lamp for one year, the result is 1.2 x 0.32 x 365 = 140.16 USD. As another example, in the United States, the average price of electricity is 10 cents per kilowatt hour ($0.10/kWh). If a 100-watt street light is used for 12 hours per day, the power consumption for 12 hours is (12 hours × 100 watts) = 1200 watt-hours = 1.2 kilowatt-hours, and the daily cost for the electricity is therefore (1.2 kilowatt-hours × $0.10) = 0.12 US dollars.

Assuming the same 1 km long two-lane road with poles spaced 40 meters apart, a 250 Watt High Pressure Sodium (HPS) street light is used. With an average electricity cost of US$0.32 per kWh, the operating cost of this street light is (50 x 250 x 0.32) ÷ 1000 = US$4.0/hour/km. Calculating the operating cost of one lamp for one year, the result is 3 x 0.32 x 365 = US$350.40.

The energy and electricity cost of a solar street light is 0. This is because solar street lights store solar energy by converting it into electricity through solar panels for lighting at night without consuming grid electricity. However, among the different types of street lights, solar street lights are relatively expensive to install. Below is a table comparing the operating costs of three different types of street lights:

It is clear from the above table that the payback period for street lighting is mostly 2 - 3 years. This indicates that after 2-3 years, the cost of replacement can be offset by the savings in electricity from energy-efficient street lights. Nowadays, energy prices continue to rise, traditional street lights consume high energy and the operating costs are increasing. LED street lights offer significant energy savings, and solar street lights offer zero electricity costs. In this situation, replacing traditional street lights with LED or solar street lights has become an inevitable trend, which not only reduces the cost, but also conforms to the concept of environmental protection and helps the green development of the city.
 

Maintenance costs

Maintenance cost of street light includes material, time, labor, equipment and other factors. At the beginning of the article we have introduced the cost of replacing lamps and lanterns, the reason why this cost is higher, mainly because the labor and equipment costs account for a large proportion of the cost of the lamps and lanterns itself is relatively small. To get a better idea of the details of maintenance costs, we can use the following formula: Cost of replacing a streetlight = Cost of aerial truck rental + Wages for at least two workers + Cost of new LED streetlight.

The time it takes to replace a streetlight on site varies depending on the proficiency of the workers, and generally ranges from 15 to 30 minutes. For a skilled electrician, the hourly wage is about $50 per hour, and a helper is needed at about $30 per hour. The rental cost of an aerial truck can be $60 per hour ($400 per day for an 8-hour day), and the cost of an LED power supply or LED module is between $20 and $30. Based on these figures, the cost of replacing or repairing a fixture is estimated to be between $50 and $120. As can be seen, most of the cost comes from aerial lift rental and labor. In addition, if only 1 - 2 lights are repaired at a time, the cost per light may even exceed $200.

The cost of street lights involves replacement, installation, poles, and operation and maintenance. When selecting a streetlight type, it is important to look beyond the upfront purchase and installation costs to the long-term operation and maintenance costs. As energy prices continue to rise, the shortcomings of traditional street lights are becoming more and more apparent, and the use of more energy-efficient LED solar street lights to replace traditional street lights has become an inevitable trend. LED solar street lights are powered by solar energy to achieve zero cost of electricity, which significantly reduces the consumption of electricity.

In addition, LED solar street lamps due to advanced technology, durable materials, maintenance times are greatly reduced, reducing maintenance costs. From the macro level, LED solar street lights fit the concept of sustainable development. In the context of the global active response to climate change, advocating energy saving and emission reduction, its wide application can reduce urban carbon emissions, reduce the dependence on traditional energy sources, and help urban green development. Therefore, whether from the economic point of view, or environmental protection strategy, the new street lamps to replace the traditional street lamps are unstoppable.