Chattanooga's Radio-Operated Streetlamps

Almost a third of Chattanooga’s annual energy bill comes from old high-pressure sodium streetlamps. At any given time 5 percent of the bulbs are burned out, and they sometimes go on during the day, needlessly adding to electric bills. “You’ve got a certain amount of lights out but you have no idea where they are, so workers literally drive around in a truck looking for them, and it’s a real waste,” says David Crockett, director of the city’s office of sustainability.

After deciding to replace the streetlamps with light-emitting diodes (LEDs) that can cut energy use by 70 percent, Chattanooga officials discovered a local company with a further cost-saving proposal: a radio-controlled system that can also slash maintenance expenses. Combined, the changes promise dollar savings of 75 percent to 80 percent.