via New Streetlights
November 2, 2011
The city of Pittsburg, California, is preparing to start the second phase of a large LED streetlight conversion program* that will result in the city’s use of over 1,900 LED streetlight fixtures when the second phase of the initiative is completed.
Pittsburg established a comprehensive energy efficient streetlighting plan which set goals for effective illumination, energy efficiency, and energy cost savings. Associated with this plan, the city developed a two phase program to address conversion of traditional cobrahead streetlight fixtures and the city’s significant number of decorative fixtures. Phase one included the installation of 1,307 cobrahead LED streetlights. Phase two, which will begin soon, includes the purchase and installation of about 620 decorative LED streetlight fixtures.
“The city did extensive research and tested a large cross section of LED fixtures before committing to these projects,” said Laura Wright, administrative officer in the environmental affairs division of the city of Pittsburg. For the cobrahead replacement project, the city elected to install LED fixtures manufactured by BetaLED, a division of Ruud Lighting/Cree of Sturtevant, Wisconsin. The project was prepared and installed through the Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) turnkey program and funded by combining an award from the US Department of Energy’s Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) program with municipal funds.
“Pittsburg currently owns and maintains about 767 decorative streetlights, one of the largest inventories of historical decorative poles and lights in the area. One of our goals is to replace the existing fixtures with LED technology and accurately assess the lighting needs in those areas served by these fixtures,” said Wright. As a result of testing and analysis, city officials concluded that some of the areas were overlit or did not have correct light distribution from the existing fixtures. This led to an elimination of some light poles and a reduction of wattage by over 50 percent. The Request for Qualifications, which was issued in August 2011, specified a fixture manufactured by Cyclone Lighting of Boisbriand, Quebec, Canada. “Because we eliminated a number of poles and fixtures and reduced the amount of energy required, we expect to save around 75 percent in energy costs with the new fixtures,” said Wright. This project, which is in the process of being awarded, is funded by a low interest loan from the California Energy Commission (CEC). The project is expected to begin in early 2012 and be full completed around April 2012.
*Great Basin Lighting worked on this project. See our photo gallery for images.
