LED Lighting Options Make Cities Safer And Encourage Locals To Visit Small Businesses

Another American town is leading by example when it comes to safety and proper illumination for the holiday shopping season. Bakersfield, California has made the switch from traditional outdoor lighting fixtures to new, LED-powered alternatives. In a move that provides a valuable indication of what savings can be reaped throughout [city] government and local businesses, Bakersfield’s downtown area is now brighter than before while using substantially less energy to accomplish the added safety benefits.

Out With The Old

The Downtown Area in Bakersfield set the plan in motion last September in order to retrofit the existing setup with the updated alternatives. They have focused primarily on streetlights, but similar savings for [city] industry can be reaped in parking lots, warehouses, office buildings and more.

Rebates And Lending

The ability to put in the new fixtures is bolstered by an agreement with the local power company, Pacific Gas and Electric. They have provided a loan for $250,000 that will be paid back over the next five and a half years. In essence, the city will pay the power company the same amount to run the new lights as they would have to run the old, and the additional capital can be paid toward the outstanding balance. Once it is paid off, the city will see a substantial reduction in energy bills thanks to the energy saving capability of the new fixtures.

See Similar Rewards In [city]

By working with local power companies, governments throughout the country and in [city] can come up with similar arrangement that allow them to reduce energy consumption without overwhelming the local budget.

Cutting Expenses While Adding Security

Beyond padding the long-term coffers, the lights are also providing an added sense of security for residents and business owners throughout the downtown area. They are significantly brighter than the older fixtures, and they provide a cleaner light that makes security cameras more useful. Residents can look out their windows and know who is outside of their homes, and they have reduced the likelihood of unwelcome, late-night loiterers in the area. Locals believe that the lights will be a draw to get more people downtown so they can spend at the downtown establishments this Holiday Season.

Setting The Example

Bakersfield, California has proven that it’s possible to install high quality, energy efficient lights without strapping the local budget, and they have provided an example that businesses throughout [city] can follow to reap similar benefits. By working with the local power company and utilizing rebates from different organizations, it’s possible to reduce the financial strain and up front cost of installing LED fixtures without sacrificing any of the quality. LED lights can save local facilities as much as 75 percent over older alternatives. The lighting portion of an energy bill usually represents as much as 40 percent of the total. That 40 percent can then be reduced by 75 percent and result in substantial savings over 20 years before the bulbs have to be replaced. Actual savings can be as high as 90 percent depending on the usage.

For more information on what LED Lighting alternatives can do for your bottom line and energy consumption, contact your area [city] EEPros specialist.