New Street Lights Saving Taxpayer Dollars

Over the past year, crews from the City of Yakima’s Streets and Traffic Division have replaced more than 370 less-efficient high pressure sodium street lights with a super-efficient LED version and in the process have reduced energy costs by about 12%. That represents significant savings when you consider that the City has historically spent around $300,000 a year to pay to power street lights alone.

In addition to lower energy costs, the LED street lights that have been installed in various locations throughout Yakima will save the City money because they require less maintenance. LEDs last 10 to 15 years compared to the roughly 2-year lifecycle of high pressure sodium lights.

“It’s really a great improvement for the City,” said Streets and Traffic Division Manager Joe Rosenlund. “The LED lights use less energy, don’t need to be replaced anywhere near as often as high pressure sodium lights do, and provide better illumination than the old lights did. The light that the LEDs put out is brighter, the fixtures provide better coverage eliminating deep shadows, and glare is reduced for drivers,” said Rosenlund.