The Obama Administration last week launched a new program aimed at helping mayors in cities throughout the United States convert outdoor lighting to more advanced technology. The Presidential Challenge for Advanced Outdoor Lighting triples the goal pursued by the Department of Energy’s Better Buildings initiative, which sought to convert 500,000 outdoor light poles to LED technology. With the goal of 1.5 million poles, the administration hopes to help cities save energy. The program was announced as the President addressed the U.S. Conference of Mayors at the White House Jan. 23, 2015.
“Through the Better Buildings Outdoor Lighting Accelerator, the Presidential Challenge for Advanced Outdoor Lighting will work with dozens of municipalities to accelerate the adoption and use of high-efficiency outdoor lighting, driving carbon pollution reductions in communities across the nation. Given that streetlight systems can account for up to 60 percent of a city’s electric utility bill, more are taking advantage of the savings that come with upgrading outdoor lighting,” said Dan Utech, Deputy Assistant to the President for Energy and Climate Change, in a post on the White House blog.