City of Binghamton Mayor Richard David, announced the annual environmental impact benefits of converting the 7,000 streetlights in the U.S. city to LED technology.

“In addition to providing better lighting at a lower cost, LED lighting will have massive environmental upsides year after year,” said David. “We’re showing that green energy projects can save taxpayer dollars while improving the environment.”

The US $4 million project replaced the New York state’s city’s traditional high-pressure sodium streetlights with state-of-the-art LEDs, which use roughly half the electricity and shine six to seven times brighter. Johnson Controls, the firm that managed planning and installation of the LED technology, compiled environmental impact data on the initiative.

(Courtesy of City of Binghamton)

The city will save 3,160,477 kWh (kilowatt-hours) in electricity each year.

Those energy savings will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 3 million pounds (1.36 million kilograms) each year, which is the annual environmental equivalent of:

Carbon dioxide is the primary greenhouse gas emitted through human activities that contributes to climate change.

These environmental benefits are in addition to substantial cost savings. The LED conversion project will save 40 to 50 percent on street lighting electricity costs. In 15 years, the city will save $5.2 million in electricity and $1 million in maintenance costs. Each new LED bulb is expected to provide 100,000 hours, or 20 years, worth of light. Once installed, these lights will require minimal service for a generation.