Over the next 6 years, Arlington County, Virginia, is planning to replace all 4,200 high pressure sodium (HPS) street lights owned by the county with LED street lights. Spending approximately $1.5 million just in 2010 to replace 1,800 fixtures with LED technology.
However, Dominion Power owns 12,000 street lights in Arlington County. The county is discussing with Dominion Power about working together to replace all 16,200 street lights with LED technology over the next decade. This will result in an estimated a $1 million per year savings once the project is complete.
“We anticipate reducing our total streetlight energy costs by nearly 50%, and when we successfully convert all 16,000 streetlights, we will be saving about $1 million per year.” Chief of Transportation Wayne Wentz, Arlington County.
Arlington County, VA, isn’t the only one switching to LED street lighting. Los Angeles, CA, Seattle, WA, and Pittsburgh, PA, are just a few of the many cities planning to convert to the new lighting.
LED street lighting emits a whitter and brighter light, which studies suggest may decrease or displace crime in the better lit areas. Some argue the bluer light has a calming effect as opposed to the harsher orange-yellow HDS street lights. However, some argue that it may increase crime due to the increased visibility.
Reasons for opposition include; glare, light pollution, light trespass, operations to upgrade lighting being disruptive, officials attempting to disrupt livelihood. Opposition can also come from nearby neighborhoods in the form of jealousy or concern for displacement of crime to their neighborhood. Opposition in business districts can be similar.
from U.S. Department of Justice – Improving Street Lighting to Reduce Crime in Residential Areas