Seattle polls citizens on LED streetlight quality

New York Times : Last week Seattle conducted a three-night test of its LED streetlights to determine the brightness level that best balances visibility and energy efficiency. To conduct the test, the city closed a 15-block stretch of 15th Avenue. About 300 people were paid a small amount to be either pedestrians or passengers in a test car that roamed the street at 35 mph. They were asked to gauge a number of factors, including visibility in different lighting variations, the quality of the light, glare, and whether they felt safe. LEDs are more efficient than traditional bulbs because they produce light with very little heat, use less electricity, and last longer. Utilities across the US have been studying their long-term potential, taking into consideration such factors as the initial startup costs, long-term energy savings, public safety, and urban ambience. Seattle is second only to Los Angeles in the number of LED streetlights already installed.