Dominion in partnership with the City of Charlottesville has installed 10 light-emitting diode ("LED") streetlamps on McIntire Street for the purpose of thoroughly understanding the advantages and limitations of outdoor lighting using LED arrays as a light source.
As part of the project, Dominion will evaluate the lumens (light) output and potential cost savings of the new LED luminaries. The project was to leave one side of the double-streetlamps with the traditional Mercury Vapor lamp and replacing the other with the new LED luminary.
Outdoor lighting using LEDs as a luminance source is attracting much attention in the outdoor lighting arena as a potential technology for reducing energy use.
LEDs as an outdoor light source are showing promise as a lower maintenance and energy efficient alternative to high intensity discharge (HID) lighting typically employed for utility outdoor lighting.
LED arrays distribute light directionally by nature, and in some luminary designs enjoy an advantage over conventional HID lamps and luminaries that employ supplemental reflection or refraction to redirect light output from the lamp.
Other potential advantages in utilizing solid state LED technology include long unit life, instant on and re-strike, dimming capability, output compensation circuitry, and improved vibration tolerance.
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