Tribune/Debra Reid - New, more efficient LED street lights were field tested by Steve Lemus and other Sparks public works employees on Wednesday, June 16, 2010. Power consumption and light output were compared for seven lighting models competing for city funds.
Seven different LED light bulbs were being put to the test. Only one would emerge the victor.
The old florescent traffic lights in Sparks will blink a brighter red, yellow and green after each is replaced with more energy-efficient LED blubs this year.
Etchart and the Sparks crew were testing different lights Tuesday to find the brand that would fill intersections across the city.
The new lights were brought to Sparks courtesy of a trickle of money that flowed into Sparks coffers from a state Energy Efficiency Community Block Grant, part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding.
The $352,000 will pay to replace each and every stoplight in the city limits — a grand total of 440 bulbs in 110 intersections.
“We only had enough to replace 70 to 80 (bulbs) before,” Etchart said.
A little LED could also save the city a load of cash. Sparks currently pays a $140,000 per year power bill for its intersections, Etchart said. The new bulbs are expected to ignite a $30,000 to $40,000 annual savings in city power bills.
I hope not,