Street lighting constitutes a significant portion of municipal energy consumption and expenditures. By buying back streetlights from their utility provider, converting to energy-efficient fixtures, and procuring products and services in bulk, municipalities can achieve energy and financial savings. For many municipalities considering upgrades to their street lighting system, LEDs have become a viable option. In addition to its environmental and economic benefits, undergoing a system-wide conversion can provide an opportunity for a municipality to standardize certain fixture types and styles, which can help create a unified aesthetic appearance or signature statement for a community. The benefits of LED lighting include:
- Decreased energy consumption and costs
- Reduced maintenance costs due to longer life
- Visible commitment to efficiency
- Improved safety through enhanced visibility
- Decreased light trespass and pollution
- Instant-on
- Opportunity for programmable controls
- No mercury, lead, or other known disposable hazards
This guide outlines the planning process for a conversion to exterior LED lighting systems, describes options for implementing projects, and summarizes available resources for cities and towns. Read more.
- DOE Municipal Solid-State Streetlighting Consortium – visit this page for more detailed information on technical specificaitons of LEDs, case studies, etc.