Login

Register | Forgot Your Password? | Close

Phoenix leaders are planning to switch 90,000 street lights to LED technology which is brighter and has lower energy costs.

Street Transportation Director Wylie Bearup said LEDs offer another plus.

"The bright light tends to deter crime and pushes criminals away from a neighborhood, since those neighborhoods tend to be more brightly lit and that's another reason we're planning to convert."

Currently, the energy used by Phoenix street lights cost about $10 million every year. Bearup said LEDs would cost about half that, but to realize the energy savings the city must first change the all those lights. That's expected to cost $3.4 million every year for the next 15 years.

The city's transportation department is looking for guidance from the city council on how to cover the conversion costs.

share this story:
facebook

5 Comments   |   Join the conversation »
  • Add A Comment 
  • Abuse
    Working Man wrote...
    Street lights
    January 8, 2013 4:38 am
    how bout we replace them as they burn out?
  • Abuse
    BURP wrote...
    Because
    January 8, 2013 5:58 am
    Just like in your home the light bulbs go bad. The ballast, cap etc. lasts for years .
  • Abuse
    wrote...
    Let's do the math
    January 8, 2013 8:34 am
    "street lights cost about $10 million every year" - "LEDs would cost about half that" (about $5 million every year) = about $5 million saved every year Changing the bulbs is "expected to cost $3.4 million every year for the next 15 years." "The city's transportation department is looking for guidance from the city council on how to cover the conversion costs." Isn't the $5 million or so in savings bigger than the $3.4 million in replacement costs? Would that not cover the conversion costs, or is that just crazy talk?
  • Abuse
    wrote...
    A little math
    January 8, 2013 10:10 am
    Phoenix will spend (at today's cost) $51 million over 15 years (3.4 million x 15 years) to convert all the lights. This no doubt will increase as inflation rises in the next 15 years. Let's pretend that they can magically change all the lights out today. Boom, 51 million dollars. The ROI on this investment will be 10 years. This does not take into consideration maintenance costs or the rising price of electricity. And since savings is not like cash in hand, the city still needs to budget and spend the 3.4 million a year for 15 years...
  • Abuse
    Boats'n wrote...
    Street Lights
    January 8, 2013 4:10 pm
    Has the vendor to provide the actual LED lights and installation services already been put out to bid and selected by the city/
  • 1

Latest Arizona Stories

Ask About An Advertiser
Ben Franklin Water Cooler

Water Cooler

World Class Arizona

  • Avnet

    World Class People. World Class Company. Here's information on a Fortune 500 company from Arizona.

Voice For A Better Arizona

Most Popular

The Lasso Posts