Getting LED Lamps to the Street

Ever think about what it would take to get LED lamps out to the streets? Well someone sure thought about it, because an increasing number of cities are requesting stimulus funds in order to make the switch from other lighting sources.

Traditional incandescent bulbs can take as much as $800 of time, equipment and resources to change. Since cities could not leave the bulbs out for any significant length of time there was no way to plan for efficient replacement. Newer LED lamps can even inform the central office when they are beginning to fade, allowing municipal services to anticipate the need and switch out all failing bulbs simultaneously.

Why Switch?

LEDs, or light emitting diodes, produce light when they are exposed to an electrical current. While they still cost more than traditional light bulbs, they are considerably more energy efficient, and they last longer because they have no filaments. That translates to lower energy costs and less maintenance, another area of potential savings.

Who’s On Board?

Ann Arbor, San Jose, Anchorage and Pittsburgh are just a few of the many cities that have begun to transition from traditional lighting to Solid State lighting (LED) options. In San Jose they hope to convert all 62,000 city lights by 2022, with significant savings anticipated.

Behind the Times?

It can easily be argued that American cities are actually behind the curve when it comes to adopting this newer technology. In Russia many municipalities began switching over years ago. Not only have they been saving on their energy bills, but they have also found LED bulbs to work exceptionally well in all sorts of adverse weather conditions including snow, sleet and extremely low temperatures.

Russian city officials cite the exceptional lighting provided by LED bulbs as one of the primary advantages. They also approve of the smaller size of the bulbs which offers more design options for fixtures.

Safety Concerns

The issue of safety seems to be a bit of a mixed bag. While LED bulbs emit much less heat, reducing the chances of fire or accidental burns, it seems their lower temperature can be a disadvantage in some settings. When snow and ice accumulate in front of the lenses of traffic lights, LEDs lack the heat necessary to melt the obstructing materials.

This creates the potential for more dangerous intersections in adverse weather conditions. This concern will have to be evaluated in comparison to the benefits that the lights provide: increased visibility on bright, sunny days.

Long Anticipated Changes

One of the primary factors that have delayed the conversion of public lamps to LED fixtures is the cost involved. Often the current lamp can’t accommodate the newer, more efficient LED bulb. This additional expense does increase the amount of time required to pay back the initial investment, but with costs decreasing across the board, it is expected that payback be quicker in the future.

How Does this Translate to Your Street?

You can make use of LED bulbs to impact lighting in your street in two ways. You can petition your city to make the switch for any street lamps in your area. With so many cities shutting off lamps completely to save money, LEDs may be a viable alternative.

Make a point of attending local government meetings when energy and budget concerns are being addressed. Cities across the nation are struggling to avoid bankruptcy and may not be able to see solutions that are outside their comfort zone. As a responsible resident you may be instrumental in showing the way out of the hole they are in.

You can also make the switch yourself. Switch your flood lights and outdoor motion detection lights to LED fixtures. Since LED bulbs light instantaneously and can cycle on and off rapidly they are ideal for sensor lights. They hold up well in all sorts of weather and you may not have to change them for a decade. Use your success to encourage neighbors and friends to join the revolution.


Michael Rupkalvis works with the LedBulbsandLights website. The site features a variety of different types of environmentally-friendly LED products, including the E27 LED bulb and other LED lights and bulbs.