In an effort to reduce the costs associated with energy use for streelights, the city of Palo Alto, California is demonstrating streetlights equipped with Echelon’s LonWorks technology. Echelon’s technology allows the lights to be managed remotely, as well as connecting them directly to maintenance software. By replacing all of its streetlights with more efficient models by 2015, the city will also reduce the amount of greenhouse gases it produces by 600 to 950 metric tons each year.

In a company press release, city officials and representatives from Echelon commented on the program:

Palo Alto is committed to implementing cost-effective energy efficiency measures and has been a leader in implementing new energy saving technologies. New streetlight technologies offer the benefits of reducing energy usage, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and has the potential to improve overall light distribution and visibility on Palo Alto streets,” said Shiva Swaminathan, senior resource planner, City of Palo Alto.

“Echelon’s technology has been proven to reduce energy use in streetlights, and every city needs to reduce expenses at this moment,” said Anders Axelsson, Echelon’s senior vice-president of sales and marketing. “The technology allows cities to not only cut energy costs, but also cuts maintenance costs while improving light quality, decreasing light pollution, and providing increased safety.”

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