Blinded by the LED light……let’s hope so!

Today we welcome another guest blog entry from Loren Dinneen from the Lincoln Park Chamber of Commerce.

I doubt that Manfred Mann’s Earth Band had LED lights in mind when they performed their hit song “Blinded by the Light.”  They certainly couldn’t have foreseen that the dialogue surrounding the future of high-intensity discharge (HID) light fixtures versus the more energy efficient, light-emitting diode (LED) variety would become contentious.

While it would appear that in many consumers’ minds that the jury is still out on the potential benefits of converting to LED fixtures, according to this article from The Sustainable Cities Network the verdict is in and LED has a bright future (yep, I said it) in local communities and neighborhoods.

According to the article, the most energy-efficient lights on the market (LED) are up to three times more expensive than their traditional counterparts.  Still, if you can afford the up-front costs, experts say LED streetlights can save money in the long run by consuming 50 to 80 percent less energy than conventional lighting products and virtually eliminate maintenance costs for up to 20 years.

These benefits, advocates say, provide a 5-year payback in most cases.

Keep reading this article to learn more about other important considerations when choosing a lighting product such as light and product quality, thermal management, power supplies, optics and light distribution.

While the debate over LED lighting will no doubt continue into the future, the experts tend to agree that LED will be the standard for municipalities and communities within five years.  With a future that bright, it looks like we’ll all have to wear shades (sorry, can’t help myself)!

Loren Dinneen, LEED GA

Loren Dinneen is the Director of Special Projects at the Lincoln Park Chamber of Commerce, managing local Special Services Areas and working with the community to revitalize and strengthen its local business districts.