Outdoor Lighting: Sentry supplies LEDs to UC Berkeley, SCE adds SSL option

June 8, 2011
The University of California Berkeley is installing SSL retrofit kits from Sentry Electric, Southern California Edison can now offer LEDs on utility-owned poles, and four more North American cities launch LED projects.

Sentry Electric is supplying 1000 LED retrofit kits for installation in decorative post-top luminaires on the campus at the University of California Berkeley (UC Berkeley). The California Public Utilities Commission (PUC) has approved a proposal from Southern California Edison (SCE) allowing the utility to install solid-state lighting (SSL) in street and highway lights that the utility owns. Lawrence, Kansas; Sarasota, Florida; Owosso, Michigan; and Stony Plain, Alberta Canada all launch LED-based outdoor-lighting projects.

UC Berkeley hopes to reduce CO2 emissions by 568 metric tons by installing LED lighting on its existing decorative post tops. The university is installing the Sentry Electric-lensed LED array inside existing tulip-styled luminaires.

UC Berkeley day and night

The university chose retrofit kits both to preserve the existing aesthetics and to minimize the scrap waste that would be deposited into landfills. The LEDs are projected to deliver 81% in energy savings. Moreover, the university noted that LEDs would both reduce maintenance costs and also reduce the scrap waste of burned out lamps.

The project includes luminaires with both Type II and V beam patterns. The light engine features a 5000K color temperature and CRI of 80, and is rated for 50,000 hours of life.

”With the evolution of LED technology, we are honored to have been chosen as the provider of the next generation of lighting for this beautiful campus,” said Shepard Kay, president of Sentry Electric. “We are able to deliver a luminaire that offers sustainability, performance, reduced operating costs, and aesthetic value.”

UC Berkeley is known for sustainability initiatives having hired a sustainability director back in 2007. The program is on track to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2014, and the Princeton Review’s Green College Honor Roll recognizes the campus and one of only 18 schools to achieve maximum scores for environmental practices.

SCE adds LEDs to LS-1 schedule

Back in February, SCE proposed to the PUC that the utility offer the option of LED lighting to customers that contract with the utility for street and highway lighting. After the requisite review, including a 30-day public review period, the PUC has approved the proposal under the Energy Division Resolution E-4399.

SCE had earlier requested and received approval to offer LEDs on its LS-2 tariff schedule for customers and municipalities that own their street lights. The utility now adds that same option to the LS-1 schedule for customers that contract for lights.

Lawrence and Sarasota

In LED deployments, four more North American cities have started LED projects. According to the kansan.com website, the city of Lawrence, Kansas is installing 115 LED lights using a $172,000 US Department of Energy (DOE) Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG). The city projects 50% in energy savings for the new lights and plans to save the removed high-pressure–sodium (HPS) lights to use in repair operations on other existing HPS lights.

According to the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, Sunovia Energy and Siemens Building Technologies are replacing 200 street lights with LED luminaires in Sarasota, Florida. unovia’s Evolucia lighting division is supplying the luminaires that are projected to reduce energy costs by 60%.

Owosso and Stony Plain

Owosso, Michigan is still in the evaluation stage of an LED project according to the local argus-press.com website. The city has installed three different LED luminaires from unnamed manufacturers, and is seeking community comments on the new lights. The local community development director hopes to replace all of the city’s downtown lights with the goal of saving $15,000 per year.

In Alberta, Canada, the city of Stony Plain will participate in the LED Streetlight Community Assessment project being conducted by utility FortisAlberta according to the local Grove Examiner. The town has previously installed LED lights along a public trail and at five pedestrian crossings. Now FortisAlberta plans to use Stony Plain to conduct one of the largest LED street light test projects in the province.