LED Lighting is Advantageous for Municipalities

Lighting is one of the primary expenses of cities all over the world, making LED lighting advantageous for municipalities in terms of both efficiency and savings. With most LED lights far outlasting their more traditional sodium vapor counterparts, switching to this type of system has the potential to save some cities millions in the long run. LED is the wave of the future that cities and other municipalities simply cannot afford to ignore.

Municipalities and Entities That Can Benefit from LED Lighting Solutions

In an effort to provide better performance, increased efficiency, and improved safety when it comes to lighting, cities and entities across the nation are turning to LED lighting systems. They are immensely popular thanks to their sustainability, which in turn yields savings.

Municipalities and entities that can benefit from LED light solutions can include:

• Boroughs
• Cities

• Fire stations
• Correctional facilities

• Parks
• Government facilities

• Sports venues
• Police departments

• Towns
• Townships

Of all of the above, cities and those entities in the city stand the most to gain as it is estimated that by the year 2030, the lighting demand will be up to eighty percent higher than it was the previous two decades. Cities can start being proactive now with the potential for much of the investment cost of the switch to LEDs paying for itself before demand is expected to sharply rise.

Making the Switch to LED via LED Retrofit Conversions

For municipalities who currently have hundreds to thousands of sodium vapor lights that are interested in making the switch to LED lighting, it does not typically require an entirely new structure. Instead, many cities are converting traditional streetlights to LED via retrofits.

It is worth noting that switching to LED lighting via retrofit is an investment, and one that typically must be made up front. That said, most users find that the change soon pays for itself. So, if considering changing to LED lighting, make sure to project savings well beyond the year of installation for a truer picture of how the switch will impact the budget now and in years to come.

LED Lighting Advantageous for Municipalities

Outside of the initial investment required to switch to LED lighting, there are an overwhelming number of LED lighting advantages for municipalities, such as:

Brightness

LED lights are typically more efficient in terms of brightness and when used in the context of a neighborhood or city, it can yield better overall lighting with less shadows on sidewalks and roads. This is instrumental in making municipalities safer with some studies revealing that it can help reduce traffic accidents and crime.

Efficiency

Today’s LED lights are estimated to have up to fifty percent lower energy input than their more outdated equivalents. If a municipality or entity replaces their current system with LED light, they could potentially see savings of up fifty percent or more.

Temperature Versatility

Because temperatures can vary from area to area, it is essential to find a lighting system that can perform well in both hot and cold temperatures. Whereas traditional lights tend not to emit as strong of a light in colder conditions, LED lights tend to perform better. This makes them prime candidates for outdoor locales such as parking lots as well as commercial freezers.

Less Bulb Replacements

LED lights may last up to four times longer than conventional lighting options that are quickly becoming obsolete. Most LED lighting boasts a lifespan of a minimum of fifty thousand hours, with some lasting up to one hundred thousand hours before a light may begin to fail. An LED light can last two to four times longer than its sodium vapor counterpart which can save valuable time and labor costs as the bulbs don’t need to be replaced as frequently.

Requires Less Personnel

With LED light bulbs requiring a change approximately once a decade, it can reduce the number of laborers and personnel needed to dedicate to the oversight of city lights. A reduction in personnel generally means savings in the salaries department, which can then go back to the general budget.

Budget Savings

Utility bills for municipalities can be a huge chunk of the annual budget, making electricity a rather expensive line item. However, after installation of LED lighting, many fiscal budgets experience a substantial savings that can then be invested in other city public services such as public health and education.

Lower Carbon Footprint

As the pressure to go green increases each year, switching to LED lighting retrofits for a city can be an effective way to shrink their carbon footprint. LEDs can also be more environmentally friendly in that they do not contain mercury like many traditional light bulbs do.

In “light” of the above, LED Lighting is advantageous for municipalities. If you are a concerned citizen or city manager interested in learning more about how switching to an LED lighting system could positively impact your city and its bottom line, reach out to a reputable and experienced light provider today.