With the help of the zero-interest loan from SMUD, the Sacramento County Department of Transportation (DOT) will replace 7,500 old street light fixtures with newer, energy efficient models in 2015.
“Sacramento County is continually focused on saving dollars as well as energy and this project is a win-win for everyone,” said County Executive Bradley J. Hudson. “The street light improvements are just one of the ongoing projects associated with SMUD and represent our mutual interest in reducing consumption and building a sustainable County.”
The total yearly savings with this project, combined with previous light upgrade projects, is $477,000. This savings is more than enough to pay back the loan within six years and will be utilized by DOT for future street light improvements.
Sacramento County owns and maintains approximately 22,900 street and safety lights. Most are high pressure sodium and mercury vapor bulbs, and 3,660 have been converted to energy efficient LEDs thus far. The new street light improvement plan, will be put out to a contractor bidding process, to add the next 7,500 efficient LEDs to the system.