United States Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar, Secretary of Energy Steven Chu, the National Park Service, and the Trust for the National Mall attended a lighting ceremony to commemorate the installation of energy-efficient LED lights on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. The LED lights, donated by OSRAM SYLVANIA and installed pro bono by electric utility Pepco, will reduce streetlamp energy use by up to 65 percent.

Secretary Salazar noted, “Achieving an economy built on American energy will require an all-of-the-above approach, one that includes safely and responsibly developing our domestic energy resources – and making the most of what we have available through efficiencies. There is no more fitting place to build a model of energy efficiency than right here in America’s front yard, the National Mall, with the installation of these LED lights.”

Secretary Chu called using energy-efficient LED light bulbs “an important way Americans can save money by saving energy. Investing in an American economy that is built to last includes taking advantage of all of America’s energy resources while working to improve efficiency. Installing these energy efficient bulbs on the National Mall is an important demonstration of our commitment to partnering with the private sector to promote energy saving technologies.”

Caroline Cunningham, president of the Trust for the National Mall says, “The generosity of Sylvania and Pepco has progressed our goal of making the National Mall a role model in sustainable urban park development. Sylvania and Pepco’s leadership and commitment show the power of public/private partnerships in advancing the Trust’s mission to enhance the beauty, usefulness and sustainability of the National Mall for current and future generations.”

OSRAM SYLVANIA contributed 174 LED bulbs and the retrofit kits needed to install them in the historic bronze streetlamps.

Joseph M. Rigby, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Pepco adds: “Pepco is proud to have been part of the federal reconstruction of the National Mall in the 1930s when Pepco overhead crews first installed the streetlights that line the Mall. Today we are proud to be part of another illumination of the Mall by installing attractive, energy-efficient lights in the original historic lamp posts.”

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