Oak Park Tries Out Energy-Efficient LED Street Lights

OAK PARK, IL — The streetscape of Oak Park will end up looking a little different for some residents now that the village is testing out LED street lights. The village bega by replacing the long-standing mercury vapor lights on four blocks with LED lights, which are proven to be more energy efficient.

The initial test spans the 100 block of S. Humphrey Ave. and the 100, 200, and 300 blocks of S. Taylor Ave., according to a news release from the village.

Officials say the LED lights will each emit about 100 watts and will maintain most of that output long before they extinguish. They're also known to have a much longer life than the mercury bulbs.

There's often concern about the sometimes harsh brightness of LED bulbs. For this reason, the village is testing out different levels of brightness and try to find a level that's ideal for promoting safety without being difficult on your eyes.

Once the village completes its test and gets feedback from residents, it plans to replace thousands of mercury vapor bulbs in residential areas over the course of the next "several" years, the release said.

If you've seen the new LED bulbs in action, click the link to let Oak Park officials know what you think.

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