New York City LEDs the Way to a Brighter Future

NYC Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg proudly displays LED streetlight replacement

We've had a recent trend of downright depressing news, especially concerning our environment, so I thought I might shed some light on a project that is starting in our nation's cultural and financial center.

The city that never sleeps may be able to rest easier knowing that it is making a simple, highly effective and profitable step toward its goal of cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 30% by 2017. The NYC Department of Transportation has started on its plan to replace all 250,000 of its streetlights with light-emitting diode fixtures. LEDs are brighter, energy efficient, and last 20 years rather than the 6 years of a conventional fixture. The project cost is estimated at 76.5 million dollars and has an anticipated annual savings of 14 million dollars a year, meaning that this effort is likely to pay for itself in less than 6 years.

Because the massive retrofitting is going to save taxpayers money, it's the type of environmentally positive step that begets nearly unanimous public approval. The project began as a wildly successful pilot program in 2009, and 3,625 lights have already been replaced in Manhattan and Brooklyn. It's great to see NYC administration making positive changes with energy efficient technology that is readily available, and I'm excited for other administrations to follow New York's enlightened lead.

Read more about it HERE.