Solar Lighting Possibilities in Grand Junction, Colorado
Nicknamed River City, Grand Junction sits at the junction of the great Colorado River and the Gunnison River, and is a major commercial and transportation hub between Denver in Colorado, and Salt Lake City in Utah. Early settlers were drawn to Grand Junction for its agricultural potential, making the city one of Colorado’s largest food producers. Grand Junction’s early economy was dominated by farming, fruit growing, and cattle raising, and even today, the city’s fruit orchards are renowned and remain important to the area’s reputation and economy. The region is also known for its mountain biking. Many bikers travel from across Colorado and the western US to experience its miles of challenging, scenic trails.
Commercial Solar LED Lights Could Add to Grand Junction’s Amazing Green Infrastructure
One of Grand Junction’s historical buildings, the Wayne N. Aspinall Federal Building & U.S. Courthouse, received some hefty renovations in 2014. A $15-million grant went toward making it one of the most sustainable and energy efficient historic buildings in the state. Thanks to high efficiency lighting, a rooftop solar energy station, and geo-exchange heating systems, the building now creates as much energy as it uses, making it the first net-zero building listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Other facilities, both historic and new, could take advantage of these sustainability trends. Energy efficient parking lot lighting outfitted with solar would not only save money on installation and utility costs, but the addition of light would also foster an improved sense of safety in the late hours as well.
In 2007, the city signed a resolution committing to energy conservation efforts whenever feasible, expecting to reduce its annual energy budgets by 19% and save $1.2 million in energy costs. They have already taken strides to stay true to this commitment, converting some of their street light bulbs to LEDs, and completing some infrastructure upgrades to buildings and park facilities.
With this resolution in mind, solar commercial lighting could help reduce energy budgets even further. By combining energy efficient LED bulbs with solar technology, a solar light can eliminate energy costs by operating off the electrical grid. The lights are easy to install because they don’t require trenching to install electrical cables, and to top it off, they come with a 10-year warranty, meaning the city can rest easy and save money on replacement costs, too.
Watch our video on commercial solar lighting in Colorado
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