The studies provided very useful information on which to base future policy and fees and greatly helped to provide the basis for installation of the LED lighting under the ARRA Energy Grant.

The Town of Essex commissioned this lighting study to create an action plan for improving lighting levels, consistency, and energy efficiency performance in the Susie Wilson Road corridor. The Town is particularly interested in the potential operational savings, energy efficiency improvements, and capital costs that would be involved in changing streetlights and signals to (LED) fixtures; and in making improvements to the overall quality and safety effects of the ambient and street lighting in this corridor.

One of the goals of this project is to balance the need for a suitable new lighting system for growth centers with the simultaneous need to reduce overall town maintenance and energy costs. Overall, this is accomplished with the new streetlighting plan. Potential reductions in energy and maintenance costs for street-lighting of residential streets has the potential to balance the increases in those costs for the more dense General Development zones.

This manual was created to assist communities interested in managing outdoor lighting, improving lighting designs, conserving energy, and preserving the night landscape and sky.