Stimulus funds update lighting
Since 2007, Waukesha, Wis., has been making improvements to government facilities, such as replacing boilers and lighting fixtures with more energy-effective products, to reduce energy consumption. Following the passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), the city applied for a grant to extend its energy-reduction efforts to the city's streetlights. “Our goal was to further expand our commitment to sustainable upgrades that lead to significant cost and energy savings for the city of Waukesha,” says Katie Jelacic, project engineer for the city.
In early spring 2009, Waukesha received a $657,000 ARRA grant to retrofit its high-pressure sodium streetlights with a more energy-efficient alternative. The city tested samples from 14 different lighting manufacturers by installing them and monitoring for energy savings and overall lighting quality. Data was evaluated from every fixture, including the actual wattage used, exact drop in wattage, light measurements and average lifespan. Based on that data, the city decided to retrofit 1,200 streetlights with Lumark RC LED Cobrahead Luminaires from Peachtree City, Ga.-based Cooper Lighting. “[The] luminaires provide the controlled distribution and color quality of light, as well as the calculated energy and overall operating savings, that will not only meet, but exceed our goals,” Jelacic says. “This lighting upgrade will mark an important step in the city's ongoing initiative to go green.”
The new lights use 30 to 75 percent less energy than the city's previous standard high-intensity discharge systems and are rated to operate more than 50,000 hours, which is about two-and-a-half times longer than its previous fixtures. Public works crews began installing the lights in November and are scheduled to complete all installations by June 1, 2011. The gradual process is designed to account for winter weather.
Project: LED lighting retrofit
Jurisdiction: Waukesha, Wis.
Vendor: Peachtree City, Ga.-based Cooper Lighting
Date started: November 2010
Cost: $657,000
