A test of LED vehicular street lighting, meanwhile, is under way along SW 15 between Portland and Meridian Avenues. Laura Story, manager of the Project 180 makeover of downtown, said the results of that test could determine whether LED lighting is adapted throughout downtown and elsewhere.

“It's a very warm glow, and the colors are good,” she said.

By all accounts, LED, or light-emitting diodes, are still an emerging technology. Architect Rand Elliott urged planners to look at adaptations of LED lighting elsewhere after learning that about 880 light fixtures are to be replaced as part of Project 180.

Consultants hired by the city initially said that they couldn't recommend the technology despite success stories reported by cities including Ann Arbor, Mich. That community reported seeing its energy costs cut in half, with bulbs lasting years longer than traditional lighting.

Story credited businessman Ralph Tyler for making the pilot project along SW 15 a reality.

“Mr. Tyler volunteered the equipment and OG&E agreed to do the testing,” Story said.

Tyler said he was inspired to offer assistance after reading coverage of the lights' potential benefits in The Oklahoman.

“Our sign company uses LED lights. We deal with LED message boards, like those used by Sonic, On Cue and Braums,” Tyler said. “I contacted Dennis Clowers (director of public works), OG&E, and we sat down and visited.”

“The cost savings can be tremendous for the city,” he said.

Tyler said the city may also discover, as his company has, that LED lights are much sturdier than traditional lights and can better survive Oklahoma's hail storms and other extreme weather conditions.

Oklahoma Gas and Electric spokesman Brian Alford said five lights were installed over the summer along SW 15 and are being tested for four seasons to analyze energy consumption and required maintenance.

Alford said Norman and Langston have expressed interest in similar tests.

“It's something we're very interested in,” Alford said. “LED streetlights have been out for a while. There's always been a question on what savings they provide, how much better they are from a maintenance perspective, and do the benefits outweigh the costs.”

Alford said the lights do provide a better light pattern and are softer than conventional lights.

“Every two years we have to replace the lights we have now,” Alford said. “If you could move that out to five years, you would have a lot of savings.”

So much so, Alford added, the adaptation of LED lighting might require reworking tariff agreements with cities.

“It's a potential game changer, without a doubt,” Alford said. “And the cost of doing this is continuing to decline.”