Kansas will soon see some big changes on the roads.
Westar Energy has started a LED-light project, where they’ll replacing old street lights with new technology.
“If you’ve got brighter light, better light, better quality that lasts longer, those areas that we’re going to illuminate are going to be a little bit safer,” said Shane Batchelder, a spokesperson for Westar. “It’s a more clean light, it allows us to be a little more directional, so instead of just having a big glow, you know, around the area, it actually illuminates down and it shines light on the areas that we want, the surfaces that we want to shine light on.”
The energy company has started adding the new lights to the Wichita area, where they plan to install about 20,000 units. LED street lights will be added to other cities for Westar customers. The project will not cost customers any extra money on their bills. The lights will be phased in over the next seven years.
In Wichita, the company has installed lights across from the Indian Center in the Riverside area and near 47th and Broadway.
LED LIGHTS IN BIG CITIES
New York City and Los Angeles have adopted LED street lights. The measure has saved the city a lot of money.
In California, however, some say the downside is costs. LED systems can cost about twice as much to install, according to a November 2014 issue of Forbes Magazine. Yet, LA expects to save about $8.8 million on its electric bill and about $3 million in maintenance costs each year.
Batchelder said Kansas can expect savings too. LED technology is less expensive over time. They’ll also have smart technology installed in the lights, which will alert Westar to when lights are malfunctioning or out. This will save the staff money when it comes to repairs.
“Instead of a light going out, and us relying either someone calling us to let us know or just our crews being out taking a look at that, that fixture is able to send a signal out to us,” he said. “I love it. It’s nice if we take the kids out and its dusk or if we take the dog out, something like that, there’s a nice light that’s not shining down in the street. It’s shining where it needs to shine. It’s not flooding our whole neighborhood or into our windows or anything.”