Are Energy-Saving LED Street Lights A Hidden Health Hazard?
Light-emitting diode streetlights are a favorite of the eco-conscious, the frugal and many a municipal official. That's because LEDs — compared to traditional high-pressure sodium and metal-halide lamps — last much longer, which means fewer bulbs to buy and lower labor costs to change them. They use about 50 percent less energy, which saves money and power-plant emissions.
Those savings can add up. NYC's Department of Transportation told the Wall Street Journal that switching over to LED bulbs could save the city $6 million a year on energy and $8 million on maintenance. So you can see why many cities, including Seattle, New York and Los Angeles, have been switching over to the new bulbs in recent years. LEDs now make up about 13 percent of public lights in the United States, according to U.S. Energy Department figures.
Those savings can add up. NYC's Department of Transportation told the Wall Street Journal that switching over to LED bulbs could save the city $6 million a year on energy and $8 million on maintenance. So you can see why many cities, including Seattle, New York and Los Angeles, have been switching over to the new bulbs in recent years. LEDs now make up about 13 percent of public lights in the United States, according to U.S. Energy Department figures.