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CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – April 3, 2012 – Interstate Power and Light Company, an Alliant Energy company, started replacing current streetlights with new units today. These new streetlights feature light-emitting-diode (LED) technology. This improved technology will save energy and improve the lighting quality on area roads.
The streetlights in the Cedar Rapids metro and surrounding communities are high-pressure sodium (HPS) lights. The majority of these lights feature a 100-watt equivalent, or class of bulb. As these lights fail, they will be replaced with a LED unit. Our initial tests show these LED units use on average 30 fewer watts. Because there are around 12,000 of these specific streetlights in the greater Cedar Rapids metro area, the energy savings from this switch will be significant.
A current streetlight runs on average 4,004 hours a year. Initial estimates show this switch, when finished, will reduce annual energy usage in the area by approximately 1.4 million kilowatt-hours (kWh). For comparison, the average Iowa home used 10,956 kWh a year in 2010, according to the Energy Information Administration.
“We have tested these new streetlights for more than a year, and we’ve seen very positive results. We’re now increasing the size of this pilot program and want to include several communities to study the wide-spread effects of the switch,” said Brad Morgan, regional director of customer operations – Alliant Energy.
Not only do these streetlights use less energy, but they produce a higher-quality light for the roadway. Law enforcement agencies support LED streetlights because the white-color light emitted makes it easier for the human eye to see color and definition at night.
Drivers will see the new LED streetlights in 59 communities surrounding the Cedar Rapids metro area, including towns in Linn, Benton, Cedar, Jones, and Johnson counties. Alliant Energy expects the complete change-out of streetlights in the area to take several years.
Residents are reminded to report streetlights that are not working properly. Reports can be made online at alliantenergy.com/streetlights.
Media Contact: Justin Foss, (319) 786-4788