Historic Streetlights Painted, LED Conversion in Progress

By Randy York

In Fall 2023, the Mariemont Centennial Committee conducted an “Adopt a Streetlight” campaign to restore and update our historic streetlights.

This summer, the Village contracted Static All Pro to strip and electrostatically paint the streetlights and provide a longer lasting clean finish. The updated color used is “Mariemont Green,” and all 109 streetlights have been painted.

The first 20 historic Mariemont streetlights have now been converted with LED bulbs. These lights are near the Old Town

Center on Elm, Chestnut, Maple, and Beech Streets. The globes have also been replaced with updated material that will resist fading and yellowing. The conversion also includes replacing the photocells for more consistent operation.

The replacement of the obsolete mercury vapor lamps will result in 60 percent energy savings, approximately $3,000 annually, for the Village. The new lights will also provide higher and more focused light output that is four times greater than the old mercury vapor lights. The beam angles can be adjusted to change the light distribution. The lights are directed down and are dark sky compliant to reduce light pollution, and the photocells can be adjusted for when the lamps go on and off. Finally, the LED bulbs have a five-year warranty, reducing overall replacement and maintenance costs.

Thank you to the following residents and organizations who contributed to the “Adopt a Streetlight” campaign: Ronald Rice, Shannon Gilmore, Barbara Hepp, Mia Williams, Paul & Katie Mace, Charlie & Gretchen Thomas, Erica Noble, Ronn & Amanda Ross, Cindy Chalfonte, Ed & Karen Berkich, Jack Brown, Rocky & Carrie Ellis, Chris Laird, Jack Brown, Jordon Gaietto, Richard Ford, David Waters, Sandy & Terry Donovan, Jeff & Lori Miller,

Heather & Dave Rogers, Judith Kagrise , Bill & Karen Herkamp, Suzy & Matt Weinland –Town Crier, and Mariemont Kiwanis.

Special appreciation and thanks to the Centennial Historic Streetlight Committee members Julie Lockhart, Bill DeCamp, and Greg Long. This committee organized and executed the campaign, which netted $14,000 in incremental funding for the Village and managed the initial painting of the streetlights. This committee also determined the projected annual savings to the Village with the conversion from mercury vapor lights to LED and investigated a variety of LED and globe solutions. The committee arranged for several LED options to be installed around the Old Town Square, organized a meeting with the Architectural Review Board, and received a certificate of appropriateness for two of the LED options.

Mike Evanchyk with the Maintenance Department, under the direction of Bill DeCamp of Bulbs Depot, is installing the LED lights and replacement globes and photocells. It is projected that 45 of the historic streetlights will be retrofitted with LED bulbs this year, 45 additional streetlights in 2025, and the remainder in 2026.