New Technology in Holiday Lights Helps Residents and Businesses Save Money and Energy
News by Topic
Newsletter
New Technology in Holiday Lights Helps Residents and Businesses Save Money and Energy
(November 23, 2004)
![]() Pier 39's Christmas tree is illuminated with ultra high efficiency LED lights. |
Historic San Francisco Cable Cars Adorned with Energy Saving Lights Remind Everyone About Conservation During Winter Season
New Technology in Holiday Lights Helps Residents and Businesses Save Money and Energy
WHAT:
How old are your holiday lights? It's probably time to switch to new energy efficient LED lights. Pacific Gas and Electric Company, San Francisco Environment and MUNI have teamed up to decorate several cable cars with new energy saving holiday lights. These high-efficiency holiday lights called Light Emitting Diodes (LED's) reduce energy use by up to 90 percent. The LED holiday lights available this year include a better selection of colors and styles than last year (the first year they were widely available), and are becoming more widely available in retail stores. LED holiday lights are available in strings of 25, 35, 50, 60, 70 and 100 bulbs and come in red, green, white, blue, yellow and amber.
NOTE:
DECORATED CABLE CAR WITH LED LIGHTS WILL BE DISPLAYED AT EVENT. All during the holidays, the famous 100-year old cable cars driving through the streets of San Francisco with the festive-and energy saving-lights will remind residents and tourists alike that it's just as important to save energy in winter as it is in summer.
WHO:
Al Stuebing, Account Services Director, Pacific Gas and Electric Company
Jared Blumenfeld, Director, San Francisco Environment
WHEN:
Wednesday, November 24, 2004, 10 a.m.
WHERE:
Cable Car Turnaround at California and Drumm streets, San Francisco (Next to Embarcadero and Hyatt Hotel)
CONTACT:
Paul Moreno or Christy Dennis, PG&E News Department (415) 973-5930
Becky Ballinger, SF Environment (415) 355-3754
EXAMPLE OF AVERAGE LED ENERGY SAVINGS:
# of Lights | Type of Light | Energy Usage of Bulb | 720 Hours (16 hours Per Day for 45 Days) | Average Cost Per kW/h | AVERAGE OPERATING COST |
300 | Large Incandescent | 9.00 Watts | 1944.40 kW/h | 13.5 cents | $262.44 |
300 | Mini Incandescent | 0.45 Watts | 97.20 kW/h | 13.5 cents | $13.12 |
300 | New LED Lights | 0.043 Watts | 9.29 kW/h | 13.5 cents | $1.25 |
Energy
A dynamic city like San Francisco requires the efficient use of clean, renewable energy to meet the needs of today and future generations. Our innovative policies and programs help San Franciscans use energy wisely, while saving money and reducing environmental impacts.
Transportation
SF Environment aims to reduce travel-created carbon by getting people out of cars and instead traveling by walking, biking or public transit. We also are greening the City fleet of vehicles and encourage the public to reduce their impact by supporting cleaner fuels and vehicles.
Zero Waste
Imagine a world in which nothing goes to landfills or to incinerators. We think it is achievable, and SF Environment is doing everything we can to make it happen.
Toxics & Health
As the first city to adopt the Precautionary Principle, San Francisco strives to protect the health of its residents, visitors and the local environment. SF Environment develops programs and policies to help individuals and businesses make safer choices in products, practices and services.
Buildings & Environments
San Francisco is habitat for 800,000 people – meeting needs for space to work, play, and learn; for food, water, and air; for community with local flora and fauna. SF Environment provides support for urban agriculture and forestry and green buildings, helping residents and businesses harness environmental opportunities.
Education & Equity
SF Environment focuses on building community capacity - engaging people throughout the City’s neighborhoods and providing them with the tools, education, and job opportunities to ensure that the places where we live, play, learn, and work are safe and healthy.
Climate Change
Reducing carbon emissions is central to ensuring a sustainable future for San Francisco. Climate change will bring unstable weather, rising sea levels and damage to our city’s natural habitat and infrastructure. SF Environment is committed to mobilizing the City to deal with Climate Change.