GE smart lighting technology expected to save City of San Diego more than $250K annually

Jan. 29, 2014
First U.S. City to Adopt GE’s LED Street Lighting Solution with LightGrid™ Wireless Controls for Decorative Downtown Lighting

SAN DIEGO, Calif. -- San Diego announced that it will illuminate its downtown district with GE Lighting’s intelligent lighting system, including LED street lighting, making it the first city in the United States to adopt GE’s LightGrid™ technology. The new system, set to be in place by spring of this year, will offer improved and energy-efficient lighting that will save the city more than a quarter-million dollars in energy costs each year.

Highlights of the project include:
- System installation began earlier this month; completed by spring 2014
- Energy savings to San Diego estimated at $254,000 annually
- Full implementation of project to replace 3,000 city lamps
- Innovative technology with GPS location features, allowing for an accurate measurement of energy usage by individual street light
- Custom engineered decorative street lights that embed the wireless controls technology to retain their historic appearance

The new system will not only enhance the city’s street lighting but will also revolutionize urban lighting systems with technology that self-commissions to the LightGrid network and provides accurate energy metering per light pole, allowing municipalities to pay for the energy they actually use.

Todd Gloria, interim mayor, City of San Diego, said: “Light controls are going to be a game changer for the city of San Diego. This innovation will provide us with real-time data on lights that are malfunctioning or not working at all, so communities can feel safe with improved lighting while the historic look of the lights is preserved.”

Maryrose Sylvester, president and CEO, GE Lighting, said: “We are extremely proud of the many benefits that our LED and LightGrid technology will have on San Diego and cities throughout the world. San Diego’s installation introduces a technology that provides significant energy savings. Once installed, the technology will allow the city to shine smarter. We’re looking forward to seeing this technology benefit San Diego and other cities across the globe.”

Lorie Cosio-Azar, project of?cer, City of San Diego Environmental Services Department, said: “The City of San Diego chose to move to LED street lighting largely because it allows for customizable brightness. It provides a beautiful quality of illumination, and we know that it will enhance the downtown district, creating a more pleasing environment for residents, business owners and the customers who spend time there shopping, dining and just enjoying the charm of the neighborhood.”
To learn more about GE’s outdoor lighting solutions, in the U.S. and around the globe, visit www.gelighting.com/roadway.

About GE Lighting
GE Lighting invents with the vigor of its founder Thomas Edison to develop energy-efficient solutions that change the way people light their world in commercial, industrial, municipal and residential settings. The business employs about 14,000 people in more than 100 countries, and sells products under the Reveal® and Energy Smart® consumer brands, and Evolve™, GTx™, Immersion™, Infusion™, Lumination™, Albeo™ and Tetra® commercial brands, all trademarks of GE. GE works on things that matter to build a world that works better. For more information, visit www.gelighting.com.

50 Years of LED Innovation
Oct. 9, 1962, GE scientist Dr. Nick Holonyak Jr., invented the first practical visible-spectrum light-emitting diode (LED). In the 50 years since, GE has been on the forefront of LED innovation. The company has released inspired LED products for both residential and commercial settings, from the first ENERGY STAR®-qualified A19-shaped LED bulb to LED street lighting that illuminates cityscapes the world over.

Contact:

GE Lighting Lamps, Ballasts, or Lightech products:
+1-800-435-4448, Option 4