Culpeper said let there be LED, and there was.
Last month, the town started testing the energy-efficient “light emitting diodes” in two streetlights on North Main at Piedmont Street.
Two different vendors provided the lights to test as the town considers making the switch. A third style from a different vendor is planned for testing in the future at South Main and Elm streets.
“There are a lot of utilities and localities looking into the LEDs,” said Culpeper Town Light & Power Director Mike Stover. “LEDs lower energy usage by as much as 50 percent.”
They do cost quite a bit more than the standard incandescent bulb, but the investment is made up over time. According to the town, the cost of an LED streetlight is $400-$600 compared to the current standard high-pressure sodium streetlight costing about $250.
LED prices are dropping with better technology and more interest. Stover said five years ago LEDs accounted for 1 percent of streetlight sales while today that figure is 10 percent.
They provide whiter, cooler light, emitting light in a specific direction whereas incandescent or fluorescent bulbs emit light and heat in all directions, according to energystar.gov.
LEDs last much longer, shining for up to 100,000 hours compared to 24,000 hours for a standard bulb, according to the town. The town of Culpeper recently transitioned all of its traffic signals to the LED variety.
As for its streetlights, the town is not rushing into the LED market but is planning for the future, according to a town news release. Officials hope citizens will weigh in on which style they like best. The two lights on North Main Street have differing light intensity and footprints.
The town is also looking at LED light technology that is compatible with the “acorn” style streetlights in the core downtown area.
“It doesn’t hurt to look at future technology to illuminate our town,” Stover said.
What do you think?
The town wants to know what its citizens think of the demo LED streetlights on North Main Street at Piedmont Street. Call Light & Power at 825-8165 to weigh in.
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