The street lights, like this one on the north side of the Cranford train station, have been installed with light emitting diodes, replacing the old incandescent bulbs, which are brighter and expected to save the township about $50,000 in electricity.
CRANFORD, NJ — When walking throughout town one may have noticed increased brightness illuminating from the Victorian-styled lamps that line the sidewalk and are dispersed within the many parking lots.
This is due to the township having purchased 335 light emitting diodes, or LED, lamplights last year, that have since been installed.
Cranford’s Downtown Management Corporation advocated for the township committee to purchase the LED lights for their cost-effective and environmentally friendly properties.
According to DMC Director Gabe Bailer, the township will save $50,000 per year.
“This is because the LED lights are more efficient thus reducing the electric bill,” he said. “LED lights also have a longer life span which is a further selling point.”
The U.S. Department of Energy writes on their website that LED’s use 75 percent less energy, and lasts 25 times longer than incandescent lighting, which is the traditional light bulb invented by Thomas Edison in 1879.
“Widespread use of LED lighting has the greatest potential impact on energy savings in the U.S.,” the federal government writes on its website.
“By 2027, widespread use of LEDs could save annual electrical output of 44 large electric power plants, and a total savings of more than $30 billion at today’s electricity prices.”
Bailer told Localsource that while the DMC and township committee have generally received positive feedback, the lights were brighter than expected.
To lessen the brightness, the department of public works will install a dimmer, provided at no charge to the town, that slightly reduces the brightness, Bailer explained.