Gatlinburg releases energy saving numbers after using LED lights

First, don't forget to Buy A Bulb (LED) for the Bijou's new blade and marquee.

GATLINBURG (WATE) -- The city of Gatlinburg released energy savings numbers following the complete conversion to LED lights for it's winter display.

The city says so far they've shaved off $17,000 on electric bills over a 3 month period.

The LED bulbs are guaranteed for five years, and rarely break.

The project cost $1.5 million.
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If they ALL break in five years (worst case scenario), they have to save $300,000 per year to get a return on investment. Hopefully the bulk of that $1.5 million is in drive circuitry and power supplies. Some LED setups can be cost-saving, but a lot of the products are still in the "boutique" category. Nobody is going to fault Gatlinburg for spending some extra money on tricked-out (and tourist revenue generating) Christmas lights, but the City of Knoxville was at one point discussing LEDs. Would they save our city money?

Does anyone know if the Knoxville Energy & Sustainability Task Force had any more activity other than this meeting and this draft of a plan (which includes LED traffic signals and streetlights)? They were to have a plan finalized last fall, and Councilman Chris Woodhull even had a Civic Engagement Strategy mapped out, but I don't know if anything ever came of it.

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semi-relevant whimsical link:
Homes Now For Sale in Toyota’s “LED Town”


Public meeting re. Henley Street Bridge project	Tue, 2009/12/08 - 6:00pm	1 day 13 hours from now
The Brian Setzer Orchestra Christmas Rocks Extravaganza	Tue, 2009/12/08 - 8:00pm	1 day 15 hours from now
Knoxville Jazz Orchestra's "A Swingin' Christmas"	Tue, 2009/12/22 - 8:00pm	2 weeks 1 day from now
Tennessee Shines featuring Buddy Miller	Wed, 2009/12/30 - 7:00pm	3 weeks 2 days from now
B.B. King	Fri, 2010/01/08 - 8:00pm	4 weeks 4 days from now

Public meeting re. Henley Street Bridge project

Tue, 2009/12/08 - 6:00pm

1 day 13 hours from now

The Brian Setzer Orchestra Christmas Rocks Extravaganza

Tue, 2009/12/08 - 8:00pm

1 day 15 hours from now

Knoxville Jazz Orchestra's "A Swingin' Christmas"

Tue, 2009/12/22 - 8:00pm

2 weeks 1 day from now

Tennessee Shines featuring Buddy Miller

Wed, 2009/12/30 - 7:00pm

3 weeks 2 days from now

B.B. King

Fri, 2010/01/08 - 8:00pm

4 weeks 4 days from now

Ann Arbor Cuts Energy Costs

Submitted by EricLykins on Mon, 2009/01/26 - 12:10pm.

Ann Arbor Cuts Energy Costs in Half Using LEDs - Now on ElectricTV.net

In the press release, Andrew Brix, acting director of the city's energy program, says "We cut our overall bill in half," with the savings paying for the replacement program in just four years.

ElectricTV.net

Knox Energy & Sustainability Initiative

Submitted by EricLykins on Thu, 2009/04/23 - 8:06am.

It's here! Happy Earth Day to you too Bill Lyons! Ms. Weil, enjoy Chicago!

Now maybe Chattanooga needs to catch up to us :)

We will really miss Madeleine

Submitted by Bill Lyons on Thu, 2009/04/23 - 8:37am.

Thanks. It is just hearbreaking that Madeleine is leaving. Her husband is from Chicago and took an academic job there. She also has family there and it is much closer to her home. She has a new job already, which is why she is leaving so soon. We will carry on, but will really miss her. She is incredibly talented, and a very nice person as well. It is not often that someone makes a real difference in such a short period of time. Her success also demonstrates that people "not from around here" can quickly forge real relationships across all areas of the political and community arenas and affect public policy in a meaningful way.

Madeline Rogero and I will co-chair the task force, and Erin Burns will continue with the Solar Cities initiative and as staff to the task force. Erin graduated from Notre Dame a couple of years ago. She played a major role in their campus conservation programs.