Published in Experience Eagan - January/February 2017 - In 2017, the 163 City-owned streetlights on Yankee Doodle Road from Federal Drive/Central Parkway, east to O’Leary Lane were upgraded to use energy-efficient LED bulbs.
LEDs (short for light-emitting diodes) will lower energy consumption and operating costs for the City.
"As a city, we are always looking for ways to improve service while remaining cost-effective,” says Russ Matthys, Director of Public Works. “With the switch to LEDs, we are able to employ the most current lighting technology while saving the City money and being good environmental stewards."
Benefits of the LED streetlights include:
- Lower costs: LED lights are more durable, energy-efficient, and last up to three times longer. While the initial investment on the bulbs is higher, LEDs offer substantial cost savings over time.
- Environmentally friendly: LED bulbs use less electricity and generate less heat than the HPS (high-pressure sodium) bulbs previously used, and they do not contain mercury.
- Remote monitoring: The new streetlights are network-enabled, which gives staff remote access to easily control and monitor for outages—plus the receivers in the lights can “talk” to each other for more efficient management of the system.
- Improved safety: The bright white light from the LED bulbs improves nighttime visibility, making roads safer for drivers and pedestrians. New lights may appear significantly brighter.
