Recently, China completed the largest municipal intelligent lighting control project in the Beibei district of Chongqing. The project upgraded more than 20,000 street lights using 1.9 million Cree XLamp XP-E and XP-G LEDs along 119 streets and one tunnel, covering 16 miles of highway. It is estimated that the installation will save annual maintenance and electricity for more than RMB 19.5 million (approximately USD 3 million) and 17.6 million kWh.
 
The Municipal Bureau of the Beibei District initiated the project to improve the living environment for local citizens and to meet China’s stringent roadway lighting requirements for light efficacy, brightness, luminance, heat dissipation and service lifespan. Featuring Cree® XLamp LEDs, street lights engineered by Chongqing Silian Optoelectronics Science and Technology Corporation (Silian), a leading LED lighting company in China, the new lighting replaced antiquated sodium-vapor street lighting along the Yuwu Highway, extending from Chongqing to Wusheng.
 
Silian developed and manufactured the intelligent lighting control system, which features an advanced wireless network management system that detects lighting issues with sensors and can adjust the brightness of the LED street lights in accordance with vehicle and pedestrian traffic flow. In conjunction with LED street lighting, this control system enables optimal lighting and energy efficiency for the Beibei District.
 
“We are very pleased with the performance of Cree’s XLamp LEDs in our luminaire systems,” said David Reid, chief operating officer, Silian. “Cree LEDs emit high-quality light with low heat dissipation that meets China’s lighting standards while saving the municipality millions of Renmenbi.”
 
“Cree LEDs are perfect for large-scale lighting projects such as the Beibei District installation,” said Tang Guoqing, senior advisor, Cree Hong Kong Limited. “Designed to last more than 50,000 hours, Cree XLamp LEDs offer the high efficiency and easy integration with intelligent lighting systems needed to reduce overall costs while providing beautiful light.”