A Brief Summary

The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) has announced the completion of a streetlight conversion pilot programme in which over 8,000 streetlights were replaced with energy-efficient LEDs in the greater Portland region. The $18.6 million conversion project was funded by an energy savings performance contract, which was done in collaboration with cleantech integrator Ameresco (ESPC). Ameresco also improved lights in 13 tunnels in ODOT Region 1.

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According to Ameresco, the LED streetlights are dark-sky friendly and utilise 50% less energy than typical roadway lighting. Overall, the initiative is expected to cut carbon emissions by 3,500 metric tonnes per year. The lights have a lower colour temperature than prior lighting, which means they won't need to be updated for 15 to 20 years. The previous high-pressure lights had a two-to-four-year lifespan.

The initiative, according to ODOT, would save money on maintenance and is part of the agency's goal to using renewable technology to reduce carbon emissions.

Lighting contributes for up to 5% of global carbon emissions, according to the Climate Group, while public lighting accounts for 20% to 40% of a municipality's power expenditure. Switching to LED lighting might save up to 70% on energy bills.

ODOT and Ameresco collaborated to create a strategy that addressed traffic and safety issues while also fulfilling design requirements. To finish the project, Ameresco collaborated with the Mobility Advisor Committee. The ODOT project began in May 2020 and completed in December 2021.