Lansing Board of Water and Light and Osram Sylvania relight historic Michigan streets with LEDs

Date Announced: 03 Feb 2010 Lansing, Mich. -– Understanding their responsibility to the city’s environmental footprint and appreciating the advancements in innovative, sustainable technologies, the Lansing Board of Water & Light (LBWL) decided to give the city streets a lighting makeover using an LED solution. LBWL worked with OSRAM SYLVANIA, the North American lighting leader, to find the best solution that provides the benefits of safety, energy-efficiency, historical preservation and high performance. The two organizations determined that the newly released Post Top Fixture LED Retrofit Kit was the ideal solution for the downtown streets of Lansing.Previously lit with either 400-watt high-pressure sodium (HPS) mast arm lights or standard 150-watt HPS post lamps, the SYLVANIA Post Top LED retrofit kit only uses 40 watts of power to operate—reducing each fixture by 110-360 watts. The kit takes advantage of the directional light distribution of 66 high brightness, Golden DRAGON® Plus LEDs from OSRAM Opto Semiconductors and delivers light only where needed, minimizing light trespass and disruption to the surrounding areas and neighbors. This also adds to the security of the streets by creating a better lit, more welcoming atmosphere for people to feel safe outdoors after dark. One of the major priorities of this relamping project was to preserve the historical nature and charm of Lansing. Therefore, another intention was to keep the existing lighting fixtures. Without having to replace an entire fixture, the Post Top Retrofit Kit is being easily installed in three different shapes and sizes of outdoor fixtures throughout the city. This LED kit conveys an aesthetic appeal due to the well-balanced light color and drives dramatic improvements in light quality.“This is a streetscape improvement project and another major effort in our sustainability plans for our city,” explains Kellee Christensen, LBWL manager of customer projects and development. “We’re taking several actions to reduce our environmental impact—now we’re taking our commitment to the streets with these new streetlights that enhance the city’s look and feel, while reducing our environmental footprint and implementing cutting edge LED technology.”LED technology is much more energy-efficient, nearly 78 percent more, than the traditional HPS lamps used streetlights and 91 percent more efficient than the HPS lamps used in mast arm lights. Since the projects inception, the LBWL has installed just under 250 SYLVANIA LED retrofit kits around the city. It’s estimated that the LBWL will save about 270,000 kWh annually because of lower energy consumption. Additionally, LEDs last up to 50,000 hours, resulting in reduced maintenance costs. In fact, the posts retrofitted are expected to save the city over $10,000 in energy savings alone—based on $0.039 per kWh. “The LBWL is a leader in municipality development—this decision to go green and adapt to new technology showcases their commitment to the city and residents of Lansing,” said Jeff TeRoller, OSRAM SYLVANIA LED applications specialist. “We’re always excited to work with partners like LBWL to find new ways to make the planet, communities, and lives better.”The installation of LEDs in downtown Lansing represents the first widespread use of LED streetlights in the city. The LBWL owns and operates 34,000 streetlights in Greater Lansing. The organization plans to gradually install more LED streetlights throughout its service territory.

Contact
Colleen Applebaugh OSRAM SYLVANIA 978.395.6887

E-mail:[email protected]

Web Site:www.sylvania.com