The White House has just stepped up its push for energy-efficient lighting with its “Presidential Challenge for Advanced Outdoor Lighting”
The Challenge implements the Outdoor Lighting Accelerator, a program to focus on overcoming barriers faced by states and local governments in upgrading to more efficient lighting technologies for their streets, parking facilities, and recreation areas.
The Outdoor Lighting Accelerator is part of the Better Buildings Initiative at the Department of Energy (DOE). Back in 2012, recognizing that commercial buildings used $200 billion in energy with 30 percent wasted through inefficiency, the government set out to assist the changeover to updated technology. Stated goals were to improve U.S. energy security, make the country more competitive globally, and create jobs. Originally, the street lighting target was for 500,000 LED light poles. This latest push triples that goal to 1.5 million poles over just two years. (DOE figures show an existing 60 million lighting poles nationwide on streets and in parking lots.)
The Better Buildings programs, including the new Outdoor Lighting Accelerator, were designed to focus on information. Businesses and municipalities were sluggish in implementing changes that could save them tremendous amounts of money; energy efficiency as a viable business practice had not become obvious to them. What was needed was a campaign to bring the latest technical solutions to the attention of policy-makers.
The government pledged to lead by example, upgrading federal facilities while reaching out to other sectors through several channels. Among these are the Better Building Alliances, the Lighting Energy Efficiency in Parking (LEEP) campaign, and the Outdoor Lighting Accelerator Partnerships. These last provide resources and recognition for LED lighting projects.
LED technology has come so far so fast that awareness has lagged. At present, LED street lighting and other LED outdoor lighting can halve a city’s outdoor lighting bill. This knowledge should motivate civic leaders to take action at a time when most communities are feeling a distinct funding pinch.
Signing up as an Outdoor Lighting Accelerator Partner means that a mayor or other official pledges to engage in a process. The process begins with appointing an “Accelerator point of contact;” the DOE does the same on its side so that the municipal leader and the department communicate effectively. Once the municipal partner has identified a barrier to success, the DOE provides technical assistance to overcome it. DOE also facilitates peer exchange on equipment and financing solutions, and it pledges to develop further tools or assistance to meet the partner’s goals. Of interest to elected officials, the DOE also promises to “provide national recognition to Accelerator Partners for their leadership in addressing these issues.” This shows understanding of the reality that it isn’t enough for an elected official to do good things; you have to be seen to be doing them! All in the bright light of LED street lamps, of course.
For your own lighting upgrades, contact Great Basin Lighting today
We’d love to help you with your outdoor lighting needs to brighten up your sports arenas, parking lots, or other municipal lighting projects. Call the LED lighting specialists at Great Basin Lighting today at (925) 240‑1566 (California office) or (775) 333-0900 (Nevada office) with any questions you may have.
