PROJECT DETAILS
There is a new look to the outside entrance of the Allentown City Hall at night. New light emitting diode (LED) fixtures, the first such area lights in eastern Pennsylvania, are brighter and much more energy efficient than the standard lights they replaced.
The new lights were installed at no cost to the City of Allentown by virtue of a grant from the PPL Sustainable Energy Fund (SEF) of Central Eastern Pennsylvania. According to John Forsyth of the SEF, they are trying to demonstrate the possible uses of state-of-the-art lighting technologies that reduce energy use and improve lighting effectiveness. “We are pleased with the cooperation of the City and the appearance of the new lights” he said.
The City’s Director of Public Works Director, Peter Wernsdorfer, noted that the new LED lights are part of an ongoing implementation program of energy efficiency measures the city is taking to save costs and energy. LED lights have been successfully used in traffic lighting in the Lehigh Valley area and are being tested in new applications on a demonstration basis.
Each of the three new LED lights consumes 70 watts of electricity. They replace metal halide lights that consumed about 170 watts each. In addition, the new lights have improved light levels 2 to 4 times greater than previous light levels, according to William McMahon of Econ Opportunities, Inc. a Reading-based engineering firm involved in the project.
“The City should save about 25,000 kilowatt hours and $5,000 in combined electric and maintenance costs over the life of the new LED fixtures at today’s costs,” McMahon said. The LED lights are expected to have an operating life from 50,000 to 100,000 hours of use… making them virtually maintenance free.
The lights were installed by Atlantic Energy Concepts, located in Reading. “We believe that LED lights are the future in lighting technology. New LED products for a multitude of applications are coming out every day. You are starting to see them everywhere you look… such as traffic lights,” said Mr. Brad Salamone of Atlantic Energy. “This was a perfect opportunity to utilize this technology and the completed project looks great,” he added.
The manufacturer of the lights is “IntenCity Lighting” of Little Rock Arkansas, a US firm. The firm says they are working on new lights for street lighting and parking garages across the country. This is their first project in the Allentown area.
One final benefit of the new LED lights is their compliance with the “Dark Skies” program designed to prevent lighting shining upward into the atmosphere – otherwise known as light pollution.