In 2011, the City of Asheville began a project to replace all streetlights with LED lighting, saving money and energy and helping achieve Asheville City Council’s goals for reducing Asheville’s municipal footprint. The Office of Sustainability has announced that the next phase of streetlight replacement is underway, focusing on major traffic corridors in the city. See below for the details.
From the Office of Sustainability:
The City of Asheville is moving into the next phase of the LED streetlight installation program in which 1,500 more traditional street lights will be upgraded to LED fixtures. Upgrades will take place Monday through Thursday between the hours of 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. with minimal expectations of traffic disruption. Installations will mostly focus on major thoroughfares such as Hendersonville Rd, Patton Avenue, Brevard Rd, New Leicester Hwy, and Tunnel Rd, and will also include many lights in the downtown area and some in residential areas. The installations will begin in the south, then proceed to the west, north, and finally the central and eastern sections of the City, and are expected to be complete by the end of May.
Over the last three years the City has upgraded 7,400 street lights to the energy efficient LED technology which is currently saving the City $450,000 and avoiding 1,294 tons of carbon dioxide annually, which is equal to the emissions from burning 7 rail cars of coal.
These lighting upgrades build further upon the City’s successful outdoor lighting ordinance, which ensures all municipal streetlights adhere to “Dark Sky” standards.
For more information about these upgrades please visit the frequently asked questions page at www.ashevillenc.gov/green or email ksmithson@ashevillenc.gov.