Many solid state lighting projects have been popping up all over cities in Arizona! As cities start to renovate and redevelop areas, they are choosing to replace their old lighting systems with LEDs, along with other “green” alternatives. Central Station at Central Avenue and Van Buren Street in downtown Phoenix is currently in phase II of a $5 million federal stimulus project to renovate the popular bus station. Renovations include energy efficient shades for passengers, solar cells of the roofs of the ticketing and administration buildings, sustainable plumbing in restrooms, Wi-Fi, LED lighting, and LED panels around the 2.6 acre station for entertainment and news purposes.

A $9.3 million project in Chandler has been completed recently. Arizona Avenue between Chandler Boulevard and Frye Road has been renovated and made more pedestrian-friendly over the past year. On May 21, Think Green – It’s Friday (T.G.I.F.) featured an article about the new LEDs. The General Electric Evolve LED Cobrahead street lighting installed downtown won a United States Department of Energy award because of the fixture’s efficiency and design. The lighting only uses a fraction of the energy of other popular street lighting fixtures. Chandler also gave its City Hall Complex a new look. The sustainable building is planning to get a Gold LEED Green Building Rating. The building will be conserving water, harvesting daylight, using high-efficiency windows, and most of all, installing LED lighting through the building!  Keep it up, Arizona!