US town converts 50,000 street lights to Cree LEDs
Hempstead in Nassau County, just east of New York City, is converting more than 50,000 high-pressure sodium fixtures to LED street lights from Cree. The project is expected to deliver two and a half-year payback with nearly $3 million in annual energy savings and $57 million in total lifetime savings.
"The use of environmentally friendly technology is a win-win for the town," says Anthony Santino, Town of Hempstead supervisor. "The new LED luminaires generate significant energy savings that provide unprecedented environmental and fiscal benefits to benefit our town and residents."
Hempstead has a population of nearly 800,000, making it larger than some states and US cities. Looking to improve visibility while preserving the historic look of the residential streetscape, the town selected the Cree DPT Series for Decorative Post-Top luminaires.
The DPT Decorative Post-Top luminaire is said to deliver a 3000K colour temperature for warm and inviting illumination, and delivers up to 74 percent savings over the earlier technology. The Cree XSP Series was selected for crisp, clean illumination on major roadways, and Cree OSQ flood luminaires with NanoOptic Precision Delivery Grid optics were installed in parking lots, where precise optical control is needed for improved safety and comfort.
Cree was selected for the project after a test installation on the Sunrise Highway quickly demonstrated impressive annual energy savings of $75,000, about 63 percent over the previous technology for that roadway alone.
Recognising the overall savings potential, Hempstead officials worked with Best LED Group and Cree to design, assemble and deploy a full package that would provide a better quality light experience throughout the town. Today, Hempstead has significantly reduced spending for its street and parking lot lighting through reduced utility bills and elimination of virtually all maintenance costs - all while providing better light experiences over the lighting's lifetime.
"We had our eyes on LED technology for quite a few years because of the impressive energy savings. However, we had yet to find the ideal package that made economic sense," said Gary Aue, Town of Hempstead, NY street lighting supervisor. "After reviewing Cree's options, we saw there was a lot of money to be saved while providing the town with new lighting for a greater sense of comfort and safety that met all our needs, so we proceeded as soon as possible."
The town is looking ahead to additional LED lighting installations in the future, noting their local utility offers impressive indoor rebates and labour costs supplements for LED fixtures.
"We're not stopping until the entire town in converted to LED Lighting," said Aue. "Zero maintenance, superior lighting - add in the standard 10-year warranty and it's a sure thing."
