As the LED light demonstration and testing wrapped up in Ballard on Thursday night, the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA) released a videoof the visual performance study done along 15th Avenue NW from March 6th through 8th.

NEEA and the City of Seattle are collaborating on a streetlight study that compares the difference in visibility between new LED street lights and traditional high pressure sodium lights.

For three nights the city closed down 15th Avenue NW between NW 65th and NW 80th Street to allow volunteer pedestrians and drivers to test the LED lights under varying conditions.

According to NEEA, the three-night streetlight testing in Ballard demonstrates the effectiveness of solid state lighting (SSL) using LEDs.

The guidance provided by these studies will help municipalities in selecting proper lighting levels for LED streetlights, which use up to 50 percent less energy than traditional streetlighting technologies. 

"It's good science. We get good data out of it and it will help us understand how best to use the lights to increase public safety, and save money, too," says Mayor Mike McGinn. "NEEA will use those studies to share with other cities as they begin to implement the LED lights."

Additional information on the study, its sustainability goals, and its resulting energy-efficiency assessments can visit the project website, located at www.neea.org/streetlighttest.