Most of us have heard about the energy efficiency of LED lights, but it turns out LEDs also have less of an environmental footprint than competing technologies according to a recent study by Pitt University.

Researchers looked at the overall life cycle assessment by analyzing natural resources consumed by the physical manufacturing and ultimately the use of LEDs versus its competitors. LEDs actually require more energy during the manufacturing process, but they use less natural resources to make. Combine that with their energy efficiency and longer life and LEDs win in the end.

This is good news for Fayetteville as well because we are going to use $150,000 in Energy Block Grant funding over the next year to begin the switch to LEDs.

Already we have contracted with local electric company, King Electric, to install LEDs in the Scull Creek Tunnels. We're currently testing LEDs for the stretch of Scull Creek from Maple to North with a bid opening scheduled for February 25th. And the Block Avenue reconstruction project will feature LED street lamps as well.

Thanks to Leif Olson, City Planner, for passing this article along.