CDOT Installing Energy Efficient Lighting Across City
By Chuck Sudo in News on Apr 9, 2012 9:40PM
The Chicago Department of Transportation announced today they'll be installing over 1,200 energy-efficient street lamps on 200 blocks citywide as part of Mayor Emanuel's Building a New Chicago infrastructure renewal program.
CDOT had replaced some of the yellow glowing sodium vapor streetlamps last year with white glowing metal-halide lamps last summer. The poles being installed are 18 feet high, illuminate 50 feet of street space and use 33 percent less energy than the lamps they're replacing, The cost of the retrofitting is approximately $66,000 per city block.
Mayor Emanuel said in a statement.
“Critical infrastructure upgrades such as new street lighting help to secure and strengthen our neighborhoods while encouraging private investment and economic development in our communities.”
CDOT spokesman Pete Scales said the new lights will be installed across 25 wards. If you live in a neighborhood that's had the streetlamps replaced already, you know that the light emitted is more pleasing to the eye and makes it easier to track satellites and stars in the night sky. The installations have already begun and will continue throughout the remainder of the year.