Chicago Smart Lighting Program Reaches Major Milestone

Chicago — One of Milhouse’s key programs with the city of Chicago, the Street Light Modernization Program, reached a major milestone — 100,000 new LED street lights installed to date, and $12 million in energy efficiency rebates secured from Commonwealth Edison, to offset the city’s investment in the program. When completed, 270,000 of Chicago’s high-pressure sodium lights will be replaced with high efficiency LED fixtures at an estimated cost of $160 million.

The Smart Lighting Program also includes $30 million for connecting the lighting system to a smart grid, allowing city workers to monitor and control lighting levels from a central location. When streetlights go out, the system will be alerted, eliminating the need for residents to report outages.

In addition to tremendous cost savings, the new lights are much whiter, and designed to be pointed downward, improving public safety. During the first 18 months, new lights were installed in the city’s South and West Side neighborhoods where rates of violent crime are the highest in the city.

During a press event, ComEd presented Chicago’s mayor with a ceremonial copy of a $12 million check, with another $6 million in rebates still pending this year, in addition to $1.8 million in energy cost savings! Mayor Emanuel warmly greeted all the contractors, who proudly gathered around him and other dignitaries during the press conference. The Milhouse team included Angelique James, Josh Pifke, Joey Anderson, Jules Williams-Lambert and Craig Turner, Program Manager.

The Milhouse team is responsible for the supervision, coordination, inspection, and documentation of the LED conversion and Target Infrastructure Stabilization Repairs. The team also manages all public relations for the program with the city stakeholders. Part of those responsibilities include creation and maintenance of the project website, designing materials for distribution to residents and businesses, and creating exhibits for public meetings.