The public works committee is asking the city's engineering department to work with Festival Hydro to determine whether installing LED street lights will save energy and tax dollars.

The directive was inspired by Coun. George Brown, who suggested a comparison between the city's current street lighting and LED (light-emitting diode) fixtures be carried out by installing LEDs on part of a street.

However, that comparative information can be obtained without actually installing LEDs.

City engineer George Bowa said the department would contact Festival Hydro and could report back in three months.

Deputy engineer Ray Nothdurft said all of the city's signal lights are now LEDs. He added the capital investment required for replacing existing street lights with LEDs could be a problem.

LEDs have been used to replace conventional incandescent traffic lights in North American and European cities since the 1990s and have increasingly been seen as an energy-saving and longer-lasting alternative for street illumination.

Manufacturers claim 50% to 80% energy savings. There are also versions on the market powered with solar panels.

An installation of LED street lights at Exhibition Place in Toronto in 2007 was promoted as an example of how the city could drastically reduce electricity use and cost.

Each of the 12 luminaries installed cost about $1,200, but proponents said the installation costs would be recouped through lower energy costs and reduced maintenance.