Tag / LED Conversion

by Leo Suarez

Pic of the Week

The 100 block of East Davie St. has LED lights installed and running at night. Notice the difference between the new, brighter lighting and the traditional lighting along Blount St.

Raleigh is leading an effort to become more energy efficient. One way is through the use of LED lights around the city. We would become an ‘LED city’ as its referred to by the LED City Initiative. Here’s some more reading for you to get your daily greens in.

Some American cities, including Ann Arbor, Mich., and Raleigh, N.C., are using the lights to illuminate streets and parking garages, and dozens more are exploring the technology.

Green Promise Seen in Switch to LED Lighting (via The New York Times)

Raleigh Recognizes Greater than 40 Percent Energy Savings as Municipal Garage Switches to LED Lighting.

Raleigh, NC the First LEDCity Installs LED Parking Garage Lighting (via Solutions For LED Lights)

The Mayor also said this is the time for Raleigh to vigorously pursue its role as the first LED City and explore and implement further ways to use LED lighting.

Mayor Calls For Boldness To Combat Economic Challenges (Via City of Raleigh)

by Leo Suarez

Raleigh’s LED Conversion

Another point in city manager Russell Allen’s budget that is worth mentioning are the funds for LED lighting to be installed in city owned parking decks. Raleigh is the first of a few cities across the country to do a wide-spread conversion like this so we may become the model for other cities to follow.

The cost savings of running an LED light is immense when converting from the traditional incandescent bulb. They use less energy, last longer, and produce a more natural light. However, I’m curious to know about the initial cost. The operating costs might be low, but it is worth investigating the purchase and installation costs of LED’s versus incandescent lights.

To give you an idea of what we may be seeing in the picture above, one level of the municipal parking deck on Morgan St. has had the LED conversion. It is a great side by side comparison of both technologies.