Genlyte Solutions advances D.C.’s sustainability, well-being goals

 

Advancing the District’s sustainability efforts

Genlyte’s Lumec RoadFocus Plus Nano, Small and Medium cobra head LED luminaires replaced a combination of inefficient high pressure sodium lights and legacy LED fixtures in mismatched color temperatures. In the year since the conversion, the cobra heads contributed to 45.44 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of energy savings, accounting for approximately 71% of the total streetlighting project’s energy savings, and coupled with D.C.’s controls and dimming schedules, reduced energy consumption by 82%.¹ The kWh saved is enough to power 4,429 homes’ electricity use for one year; it would take 31 football fields of solar panels for one year to produce an equivalent amount of power.²

Further contributing to the District’s sustainability efforts, the new RoadFocus luminaires are Dark Sky Approved; they comply with standards to minimize light spill into residential windows, preserve the night sky and protect natural wildlife ecosystems. The cobra heads, which blend with D.C.’s historical, decorative aesthetic, feature zero uplight, warm, 2700-3000K color temperatures and low-profile, directional shields for responsible illumination.

Enhancing well-being and comfort in residential neighborhoods

Another key objective of D.C.’s Smart Street Lighting Project was to improve light directionality and uniformity in accordance with the District’s different road types and functions and dimming schedules. The previous high pressure sodium streetlight distribution was spotty, creating dark areas, shadows and glare.

Genlyte supported OPTERRA Energy Services with photometric analysis to optimize more than 200 different streetlighting design layouts before installation. The goal was two-fold: to eliminate light gaps along each corridor, and to enhance pedestrian, bicyclist and driver visibility and safety and security.