City of Los Angeles Highlights Carmanah Solar Powered Lighting

Grand opening of LA River bike path celebrates City’s installment of nearly one-hundred EverGEN solar lighting systems

City of Los Angeles Councilmen, community members, and representatives from the Public Works Department, including the Bureau of Street Lighting, celebrated the grand opening of the Los Angeles River bicycle path on May 24th, 2012. In 2011, the LA City bike path, spanning approximately 4 miles in two lengths along the Los Angeles river, received one-hundred EverGEN 1710 solar powered lights developed by Carmanah Technologies (CMH.TO) (Pink Sheets: CMHXF). Local residents and commuters present at the opening ceremony commented positively on the solar-illuminated bike path offering increased safety and allowing for longer use of the path after dusk. The bike path represents one of many projects City officials have earmarked for sustainable lighting solutions, which supports the City’s commitment to energy conservation and sustainable development.

Established in 2009, the LA River Bike path was previously illuminated for safety precautions using grid-powered AC HID (high intensity discharge) fixtures. Unfortunate issues surrounding copper theft left portions of the path dark after dusk, which prompted City officials to seek a solution that would mitigate security and usability concerns as well as avoid regular copper wire re-installment.

Working together with local lighting agent, David Silverman & Associates, and Carmanah, the City turned to solar powered lighting as a solution. According to Kerney Marine, Los Angeles City Project Manager, “The Carmanah solar-powered lights gave us exactly what we needed, and we avoided the high cost and associated risk of copper wiring. The integrated design with all the electronics, batteries, solar panels, and luminaire at the top of the pole makes the systems very theft resistant.”

“I love biking in this City and on this path,” comments a local resident at the ceremony. “These lights are an incredible addition. They address safety and recreational issues and it’s fantastic that [the City] found a way to do it where we can keep the vandalism and damage down. Congratulations.”

Bruce Cousins, CEO of Carmanah, states, “The City of LA is a leader in the deployment of energy efficient lighting technologies designed to meet safety, security and energy and cost reduction initiatives. The City’s approval of Carmanah solar lighting products across a variety of projects and applications helps guide other major cities and commercial organizations to investigate the immediate and long-term benefits that solar-based lighting solutions provide.”