NEEA and Seattle Team Up for Streetlight Demo

The Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA) and the City of Seattle will take a look at the future of solid-state street lighting in the Pacific Northwest. The study will demonstrate the effectiveness of solid-state lighting (SSL) using LEDs. NEEA, working with Seattle City Light and the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT), will test the theory that the broad spectrum of light from SSL products will let municipalities and utilities dim streetlights to lower levels, saving significant energy while still making streets safer for drivers and pedestrians. Solid-state lighting enhances peripheral vision, depth of field and color representation. "We are doing this study at a critical time, since many streetlights are at the end of their lifespan and cities have to make sound business decisions with currently little technical proof that this new technology is better, cheaper and safer," said Jeff Harris, director of emerging technology at NEEA. "Our work here is intended to ‘prove out’ the real performance of these new street lighting technologies where it counts – on the street. This is a great example of NEEA and its utility partners filling the energy efficiency pipeline by introducing newer field-tested technologies that deliver energy and money savings to the region." Results from the Seattle test will be combined with data from streetlight tests in other cities to create a regional design guide for Northwest municipalities – and municipalities across North and South America – looking to replace existing high-pressure sodium lights.