City establishes LED Streetlight Demonstration area to allow ...
for easy comparison with older technology.
Each newly installed light contains 80 LEDs, which emit the equivalent light at ground level as the 250-watt high pressure sodium fixtures nearby. LED lights have been shown to use up to 50 percent less energy while lasting 10 times longer than traditional streetlights.
"We've established this LED Streetlight Demonstration Area so those interested can see the benefits of the LED technology. Although the initial capital outlay for LED lights is currently much more expensive, they may cost less to operate and maintain long term," explained City Traffic Engineer Rob Helt. Helt estimates it would cost between $10 million and $15 million to retrofit the entire City streetlight inventory.
The LED lights were purchased through a $3.7 million federal Energy Efficiency Conservation Block Grant (EECBG). The grant was awarded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). The LED Streetlight Pilot Program received $473,267 to retrofit a total of 430 streetlights throughout the community. Recently, nearly 300 streetlights along larger roads were retrofitted with LED technology. Now, the pilot LED retrofit program is moving into residential neighborhoods.
How citizens can win an LED light for their neighborhood.
