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New Lights Save Energy

By KRWG News

New Mexico – New Mexico has finished switching traffic lights in 33 communities to energy-saving LEDs.

Officials say the change will save about 4 million kilowatt-hours of energy over a year, or enough electricity for more than 500 average homes for a year.

They say the thousands of new LED traffic signal lamps installed at 330 intersections throughout New Mexico will save up to 80 percent of the energy used by conventional incandescent lights that operate all the time.

LED traffic light arrays use 6 to 12 watts of energy per lamp, depending on the color, compared to 150 watts used by each incandescent bulb they replaced.

Officials also say LEDs are brighter, which improves safety for drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians, and last four to nine years longer.

Copyright 2010 The Associated Press.