Case Study: Chicago Department of Transportation achieves 50% energy reduction and $100M in savings with Ameresco's Smart Lighting Program

Historic Efficiency Project Replaced 85% of City’s Street Lights With Smart City Technology for Energy Savings and Enhanced Public Safety

The Chicago Department of Transportation engaged Ameresco to modernize its aging streetlight network through the Chicago Smart Lighting Program. Faced with high energy and maintenance costs and a need to increase public safety, the city sought large-scale LED and smart lighting upgrades including LED fixtures and a Lighting Management System.

Ameresco surveyed more than 300,000 fixtures, replaced over 270,000 lights (about 85% of the system), contracted a Lighting Management System, developed an installation and maintenance app, and trained local workers. The $160M project cut energy use roughly 50%, delivers about $10M in annual energy savings (projected $100M over 10 years), made the city eligible for ~$35M in rebates, improved visibility and camera imagery for public safety, and enabled remote monitoring and 311 integration.

Chicago Department of Transportation

Gia Biagi

Commissioner