Environmental Leader

Raleigh, North Carolina is experimenting with cutting energy consumption and maintenance costs by replacing conventional public light fixtures with ones based around LEDs, CNET reports.

Raleigh – with LED manufacturer Cree – has already replaced high-pressure sodium lights in a downtown parking garage with LED lights. Early projections indicate that initial expenses will get recovered in cost savings in two to three years. “We are saving over 40 percent of the energy we would otherwise use,” said Mayor Charles Meeker.

Next, Raleigh will pilot LED streetlights and  seek funds to convert the city’s other parking garages. If all seven municipal parking lots in the city get retrofitted, it could save $100,000 a year in energy consumption and decreased maintenance. The lights in stadiums, gyms, schools, parks and other public venues could be next.

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