LED Streetlighting - Shedding Light on the Subject
May 8, 2012
by
Lynn Nordby
Category:
Energy Resources and Conservation

The representatives from Seattle and Shoreline reported that neighborhood reaction has been largely favorable. Although the LED lights actually produce somewhat lower output measured in lumens, they've heard from the public that the whiter light and truer color rendition actually seem to improve visibility. A couple of before and after photos from the Seattle website illustrate the difference.
The Municipal Solid-State Street Lighting Consortium has been formed through the U.S. Department of Energy to help promote the effort and expand the knowledge gained from experience and research and development (R&D). At present the consortium includes over 350 members, including municipalities, schools, and electric utilities.
With 90 percent of the bill for street lighting coming from tax dollars, this looks like a "no brainer" for local governments as the high-pressure sodium lights end their useful lives.
MRSC is a private nonprofit organization serving local governments in Washington State. Eligible government agencies in Washington State may use our free, one-on-one Ask MRSC service to get answers to legal, policy, or financial questions.