News
July 10, 2007
"LED City" Results In Savings For Raleigh
The City of Raleigh is realizing savings in energy and maintenance costs from a pilot project that uses new lighting technology in the parking garage at the Avery C. Upchurch Government Complex. The 141 fixtures using light emitting diode (LED) technology were installed on the third level of the municipal garage in January.
According to a “LED City” report by the City of Raleigh and Cree Inc., the LED fixtures are projected to produce electricity savings of 46,720 kilowatt-hours per year, or about 40 percent of the lighting energy load. This equates to $2,803 of savings per year based on current energy rates. Progress Energy, Raleigh’s primary electric utility provider, worked with the City and Cree to validate the energy savings.
In addition to energy savings, the City and Cree also reported substantial savings in maintenance costs due to the longer life span of the LED fixtures. These savings are projected to be $3,325 per year, the report said.
The LED-based lighting fixtures were installed on the third level of the Upchurch Government Complex parking garage as part of the first LED City initiative between the City of Raleigh and Cree Inc. to save tax dollars and protect the environment. Installation of the LED lights in the parking garage was complete on Jan. 11. The hope is that the initiative between the City and Cree will serve as a model for other cities that are considering implementing energy-efficient infrastructures.
Cree Inc., based in the Triangle, produces LEDs that provide a new source of energy-efficient light that can serve as the foundation for cost-effective lighting solutions. Lighting Science Group Corporation of Dallas supplied the LED fixtures installed in the Upchurch Government Complex parking garage. Most of the fixtures are never turned off, keeping the garage’s third level lit 24 hours a day. The LED lights on the perimeter of the garage are on at night but turned off in the daytime when natural lighting is adequate.
The initial investment to install the LED fixtures in the municipal parking garage was $42,300, according to the LED City report. Savings in maintenance and energy costs from the LED technology will yield a payback during year seven of the pilot project if these savings continue to increase yearly as expected, by approximately 3 percent. As for the LED fixtures that are turned off in the daytime, the City will continue to realize energy and maintenance for an additional five years, or up to 12 years after the fixtures were first installed.
Citizens also are impressed with the LED light fixtures in the Upchurch Government Complex parking garage. According to survey results released in March, the number of respondents who perceived the garage as “very safe” increased by 76 percent after the LED fixtures were installed in the garage. Furthermore, the proportion of respondents indicating the lighting quality in the parking garage is “excellent” increased from 24 percent prior to installation of the LED fixtures to 86 percent after installation. This supports industry research that the quality of light in the garage is greatly improved with the LED fixtures compared to more traditional lighting. Unlike other more common lighting technologies, LED light sources do not contain harmful lead or mercury, further protecting the environment.
The success of the LED pilot project in the Upchurch Government Complex parking garage coupled with rapid improvements in LED technology have prompted the City to put LED fixtures in its new underground parking garage on the south end of Fayetteville Street. The first phase of the underground garage is currently under construction and will have 900 parking spaces when it is complete in 2008. The LED fixtures that will be used in this initial phase are projected to save the City more than $75,000 in energy and maintenance costs in the first year alone.
Prepared by:
John Boyette
Public Affairs Specialist
Public Affairs Department
For More Information Contact:
Daniel Howe
Assistant City Manager
City Manager Department
222 West Hargett Street
Raleigh, NC 27602
919-996-3070
|
