The center of San Diego, the famous Downtown District, has been illuminated with GE Lighting’s smart outdoor LED lighting system which includes a wireless technology to control luminaires for greater energy efficiency and savings for the city exceeding $ 250,000 annually. In addition, they can measure consumption accurately and in real time.
San Diego is the world’s first city to incorporate GE Lighting’s LightGridTM smart lighting control system to its street lighting. This new technology, which was launched this year, respects the classic style of the traditional neighborhood’s luminaires and enables greater energy efficiency and savings exceeding $ 250,000 annually to the city.
This technology allows to accurately measure the electricity consumption per light point and although it has not yet reached Europe, it will be available in a few months.
Todd Gloria, deputy mayor of San Diego, said: “This lighting control system will change things. This innovation will provide us real-time information about the lamps that malfunction or do not work at all. Neighbors will feel safer, but still enjoying the traditional neighborhood’s atmosphere. ”
Meanwhile, Lorie Cosio-Azar, Department of Environmental Services of San Diego, said: “San Diego chose a LED outdoor lighting system essentially because this type of system allows adapting the brightness depending on the needs. It provides a lot of light, enhancing the personality of the Downtown District, creating a more pleasant environment for their neighbors, for merchants and customers who come to the area to shop, dine or just stroll through its streets full of charm. »
SmartGrid
Actually, this is a smart grid system connecting all luminaires using a wireless technology and it allows to measure very accurately and in real time each light point’s energy consumption. This measurement results in energy savings for the city estimated at $ 254,000 annually. To this end 3,000 lamps and luminaires were replaced by LED systems.
And in addition, with the new lighting system, the unique atmosphere of the city’s Downtown District, a picturesque neighborhood will be enhanced.
Maryrose Sylvester, president and CEO of GE Lighting, says: “We are especially proud of the many benefits that our LED solutions and our LightGridTM technology will bring to San Diego. This project integrates a greener technology and offers significant energy savings. Once installed, it will enable the city to shine more, more effectively, and save a quarter million dollars a year. ”
Wireless control
The wireless LED lighting control system is new in the industry (this is the first of its kind for this type of installation), and provides features that enable better asset management, energy conservation in general terms and lighting management through wireless dimming control which also facilitate the measurement of quality public services.
This smart grid provides more light with a higher energy efficiency that significantly cuts the city’s spending and maintenance needs. The system will not only improves the lighting of the city’s streets, but will also revolutionize street lighting systems to provide accurate energy measurement for each light pole thus allowing municipalities to pay for the energy they actually use.
The City of San Diego wants to negotiate with its local utility a measured fee rather than a flat fee for its public light consumption, and with this technology which provides accurate energy measurement by light pole and specific information of its use, will make it possible, because the municipality will pay for what is used.
With wireless control, lights are regulated, so when there is no one on the street (which means that no one is “using” lighting) its brightness can be reduced.
