More major sustainable developments have been made in Arizona! The state is moving toward becoming more “green” and energy efficient by making changes in its traffic and street lighting. Ameresco, an energy services company, has been working with Phoenix Public Works and Street Transportation since October to plan to install LED traffic lights at Phoenix’s 860 intersections. The project is funded through the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant program, which is funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The new traffic lights will use only 10% of the energy the current incandescent street lights use and will reduce energy by more than 5 million kWh. They will also reduce carbon emissions, specifically 2,500 tons of carbon dioxide, 10 tons of sulfur dioxide, and eight tons of nitrogen dioxide. Phase one of the project will be completed by April 2011 and phase two will begin shortly after.

Green Global, a Phoenix-based company, will be beginning a pilot program in Gilbert using its computer programs to control the brightness of the town’s street lights. Over the next three months, the program will allow Gilbert to brighten and dim street lights individually to reduce energy costs. For example, in the early evening hours, they can gradually turn on, and they can dim in the early morning hours when there is less traffic on the road, said Parker Leavitt in an Arizona Republic article. Green Global also wants to install solar panels, or “solar blankets,” over the top of the town’s 24,000 street lights. They will be hardly noticeable, more difficult to steal, and will save even more on energy costs. If the pilot project shows it can benefit the town on a large scale and Green Global can make a deal with Arizona Public Service and Salt River Project to change the electricity price on the unmetered street lights, the town can save thousands of dollars annually.

Keep up the good work in becoming more sustainable, Arizona!