Back in 2006, the city of Raleigh, NC partnered with local LED manufacturer Cree to become the first “LED City.” Since that time, the LED City program has grown substantially, with cities across the U.S. and abroad joining in to reduce their carbon footprint, save money, and promote LED technology in general. In fact, the U.S. Department of Energy itself absorbed the LED City Program recently.
This fall marks Raleigh’s fifth year as an LED City! Since that time, 57 LED projects have been completed in Raleigh, with installations ranging from streetlights to pedestrian walkways to the mayor’s office.
According to assistant city manager Dan Howe, each project passes a careful cost-benefit analysis before going through. “We have undertaken no LED project that did not pencil out for the taxpayers,” says Howe. “Early on, we decided our efforts here have to be focused on LED as a strategy that pays off, not just something cool that will save the earth.”