Reform Pittsburgh Now » 2008

May 31, 2008

Let There Be Light

Last month, Pittsburgh joined the ranks of North American cities that have opted to test the installation of LED street lights. A two-block corridor of Walnut Street, from Aiken to Bellefonte, in Shadyside, was fitted with new LED light panels. Immediately, pedestrians and motorists were able to tell the difference in the clean, white light emitted by the LED bulbs. What they could not see was the savings in energy and tax dollars these new lights provided to the city.

In Pittsburgh, we spend over $250,000 per month for electricity to pay for our street lights. That equals over $3 million per year, just for street lights. By implementing an LED street light system, we could cut that bill in half. The lights we procured for Walnut Street (they were donated by friends from Leotek Corporation in San Diego, CA) are rated at 150 watts, but use only 100 watts of energy. Compare that to the dull orange lights we have throughout Pittsburgh that use 200 watts. Also, LED lights are guaranteed to last 5 years without replacement and on average last about ten years. Our present system requires maintenance every two years.

Ann Arbor, Michigan is leading the revolution toward LED street lights in the United States. By the end of the year, they will have become the first city to utilize a 100% system. Our neighbors to the North are close behind. Toronto is aggressively establishing itself as a true, green city and is also working to implement a 100% program. Pittsburgh has an opportunity to be a leader in this new field and I have begun a program to use our test program in Shadyside as a launching ground. If you get a chance, take a walk down Walnut Street one night this summer and notice the change that soon will be coming to your neighborhood.

The Stanley Cup

As a Pittsburgher, a 38-year fan of the Penguins, someone who has played hockey for 35 years and continues to play on two different teams, a season ticket holder and a past season ticket holder for parts of four decades, I could not – I would not – let this post end without wishing our Pens the best of luck in the rest of the series and thanking them for everything they brought to Pittsburgh this past season. Let’s Go Pens!

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May 31, 2008

Let There Be Light