Raleigh To Install LED Street Lights
RALEIGH, N.C. — How many executives does it take to change a light bulb?
The City of Raleigh will find out as officials complete installation of the city’s first advanced energy-saving light-emitting diode (LED) street lights.
Raleigh mayor Charles Meeker and Progress Energy Carolinas CEO Lloyd Yates will be on hand to help install the final LED light fixture of the project Tuesday at 2:30 p.m. The installation is part of the city’s effort to become an “LED City.” LED City is a joint government/industry effort to evaluate, deploy and promote municipal LED lighting technology.
The event will take place at the main entrance to Two Progress Plaza, along Davie Street between South Wilmington and Blount streets.
Progress Energy has partnered with the City of Raleigh to begin testing of LED technologies in real-world street lighting applications. The installation is part of the company’s commitment to expanding energy-efficiency technologies for customers and communities.
The study, including nine street lights, is located in front of Progress Energy’s corporate headquarters in downtown Raleigh. Existing street light fixtures will be converted to LED fixtures manufactured by Beta LED and featuring lamps developed by Durham-based Cree, Inc.
LED fixtures typically boast longer life-spans, reduced maintenance, and greater efficiency than traditional lighting fixtures. And with no warm-up time, greater clarity and no mercury content, LED fixtures offer an attractive option for street lighting applications.
The study will give Progress Energy, the city of Raleigh and industry partners the opportunity to test LED street lighting in a realistic environment subject to the actual daily conditions under which these lights typically operate. The information gained from the study will help the company and city to prudently evaluate which technologies are most efficient and cost effective before large investments and widespread deployment. It will also help to establish a cost of operation for LED street lighting and compare that long-term cost against equipment currently in use.
