LED there be light: Longmont embracing efficient fixtures along streets

LONGMONT — The city of Longmont plans to convert all of its street and sidewalk lights to light-emitting diodes, following a national trend to transition to the new more efficient lighting.

By this summer, Longmont plans to replace 200 streetlights throughout the city with LEDs at a cost of about $75,000. Over three to five years, the city will replace all 4,100 high-pressure sodium lights with LEDs, which are expected to last two decades.

Despite the expense, Longmont officials expect savings on maintenance and energy costs. LED streetlights produce more light per watt of power consumed, last longer and…