Evolucia lights up RNC

SARASOTA — One Sarasota-based company is using the Republican National Convention as an opportunity to spotlight its products in a project it completed for the city of Tampa.

Evolucia, which makes LED street lights, says attendees of the convention walking and dining in the Franklin Street district in downtown Tampa may take it for granted, but the city replaced more than 100 light fixtures to spruce up the area and increase safety.

According to a news release from the company, it replaced the area's mercury vapor street lights with energy-efficient LED decorative post-top and 150-watt shoe box street lighting fixtures. Evolucia says in addition to saving energy with the new fixtures, the LED lights are also brighter and more reliable.

“The city is saving over 60% of its energy consumption and costs and the fixtures' 70,000 hour life guarantee a reduction in maintenance and maintenance costs,” Mel Interiano, Evolucia's CEO, says in a release. “We estimate that the project will pay for itself in less than four years.”

The firm looks to capitalize on positive news as it continues to struggle financially. It recently changed its name from Sunovia Energy Technologies in what it says is an effort to rebrand and refocus the company. Evolucia (symbol: ILED, recent price: 4 cents) posted a loss of $1.32 million in the second quarter, although revenue increased slightly from the first quarter, to about $690,000.