Solar lighting brings reliable performance to San Bernardino courthouse

When the City of San Bernardino set out to replace lighting at its main courthouse parking lot, the goal was simple: maintain safety and visibility without the cost and disruption of rebuilding electrical infrastructure.

Located in the heart of downtown, the 8-acre site, ringed by tall palms and framed by mountain views, serves hundreds of employees and visitors each day. Parking is in high demand, and when government offices on the site were relocated, the city took the opportunity to repurpose the land for additional parking. With more than 400 spaces now spread across a larger footprint, reliable lighting was essential.

The existing grid-tied system had become costly to maintain, with frequent repairs, high utility bills, and recurring incidents of copper theft. Although the electrical network was already in place, reusing and extending it into the new parking area would have required trenching through pavement, installing conduit, and reconnecting to the grid—a process that promised major expense and disruption without solving the theft problem.

Solar lighting offered a faster, cheaper, and more sustainable solution, and the city was already familiar with the technology. In recent years, it had successfully deployed solar lighting for streets, parks, and other public spaces, proving its reliability in Southern California’s sunny climate. With abundant sunlight year-round, solar systems could be sized efficiently while still delivering bright, dependable illumination all night long.

Working with its local agent, Performance Lighting, Sol recommended its high-power EverGen-M system for the project. Compatibility with Lithonia’s DSX fixture—the city’s preferred luminaire—made integration straightforward and consistent with other municipal sites.

Installation took place in two phases to keep the lot partially open throughout. With no trenching, wiring, or grid connection required, each solar unit was installed independently and operational within hours.

The result is a parking lot that looks and feels just as it should: safe, well-lit, and accessible—without the ongoing costs or maintenance headaches of wired infrastructure. In a city where the sun shines almost every day, San Bernardino’s courthouse is a fitting example of how easy it can be to let solar do the work.