EVERETT — Work crews have begun changing the city’s old street lights into energy-efficient bulbs.
The new retrofits replace 250-watt sodium lamps with 101-watt LED fixtures, which put out about the same amount of light, but will save about $2.6 million in energy costs over the next two decades.
The new bulbs also last longer; about 20 years, compared to about five years for sodium lamps. The lamps issue a whiter color of light as well, whereas the sodium lamps have a yellowish tint.
The crews are starting in the north end of town and working their way south, said Marla Carter, a spokeswoman for the city’s Department of Public Works.
Most of the work is being done at night to minimize traffic disruption, she said.
The city owns about 2,500 street lights, about one-third of the total in the city. The others are owned by the Snohomish County Public Utility District.
Carter said that, in general, the city’s lights are on metal poles and the district’s are on wooden poles.
The city should have all its lamps replaced in about six months, Carter said.
The district is also planning to replace its sodium lamps, but it is expected to take longer because they are starting first in smaller towns, she said.
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