In River Forest, IL, the U.S., the village board has approved a project studying the effectiveness of energy-efficient light-emitting diodes (LED) in outdoor streetlights. And the LED pilot project in the village, which encompasses just one streetlight near the corner of Central and Lathrop Avenues, could be expanded later this year.

An initial estimate released July 17 put the cost of expanding the LED program at about $120,000. And a final cost estimate hasn’t been determined. The village board would need to act quickly to greenlight the project before Dec. 15, when the property tax TIF program expires.

The LED project has all the hallmarks of a successful village endeavor, as it blends leading-edge technology, sensible sustainability and tangible financial advantages.

For the pilot project, an old 175-watt mercury-vapor lighting fixture on Central Avenue was replaced with a 50-watt LED fixture. The new light generates more light than the aging mercury-vapor fixture. Moreover, LEDs last as much as four times as long as the mercury-vapor fixtures.

In addition to standard streetlights, the public works department is also working to retrofit a decorative post-style streetlight with an LED.