HomeMy WebLinkAboutPurchase L.E.D. Retrofit Kits for Illuminated Street Name SignsCITY OF PALM DESERT
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT
STAFF REPORT
REQUEST: Authorize purchase of LED retrofit kits for illuminated street name
signs from various manufacturers to determine quality.
SUBMITTED BY: Mark Greenwood, City Engineer
DATE: June 23, 2005
CONTENTS: None.
Recommendation:
Authorize purchase of LED retrofit kits for illuminated street name signs from
various manufacturers to determine quality, and authorize the purchase of the
best kits in an amount not to exceed $35,000.00.
Discussion:
Currently, the illuminated street name signs are backlit by fluorescent bulbs. These
bulbs have a relatively short life and they require a lot of energy for their operation.
These two factors create a situation where there is a high cost of operation due to
electricity costs and a high amount of maintenance work. LED technology has provided
a bulb that doesn't require as much energy to operate, and has a longer life than typical
bulbs. Although the initial cost of LED bulbs is higher, the overall lifelong cost of
operating an LED bulb is substantially cheaper than that of fluorescent or incandescent
bulbs.
LED bulbs are already used in City of Palm Desert traffic signal indicators. We have
found that the quality of the bulb varies greatly from manufacturer to manufacturer.
Manufacturers that produce LED illuminated street name signs are named below:
GELcore, a joint venture between GE Lighting, and EMCORE Corporation.
Carmanah Technologies, Inc.
Leotek Electronics Corporation
National Sign & Signal
Public Works staff is requesting authorization to buy a small quantity of the LED
products from the abovementioned manufacturers as a sample group to determine the
quality and life expectancy of each unit.
G.\PubWorks\Staff Reports\2005\June 23'Aulhonze purchase of LED retrofit kils.doc
Staff Report
Authorize purchase of LED equipment
Page 2 of 2
June 23, 2005
Funds are currently available for this purchase in the Traffic Signal Maintenance
Account, 110-4250-433-3325. Therefore, staff requests that Council authorize the
Public Works Department to purchase LED retrofit kits from the above manufacturers to
test the quality of the equipment, and after having tested the products and determined
the unit of highest quality, allow the Public Works Department to purchase future retrofit
kits from that manufacturer in an amount not to exceed $35,000.
Submitted By:
II ark Greenwood, P.E.
City Engineer
Approval:
ACM for Developmen rvices Finance Director
Department Head:
Michael Errante, P.E.
Director of Public Works
City Manager'
G:\PubWorks\Ryan Gayler\Word Files\Staff Reports\Authonze purchase of LED retrofit kits.doc