As objects, streetlights tend to recede into that dull tangle of structures that keep our towns and cities running smoothly. They generally aren’t intended to draw any notice. But maybe its time to start appreciating the possibilities. When well designed–which the typical American streetlight is emphatically not–they can make our urban environments more appealing and livable. Part of that challenge includes making them more sustainable: At present, street and highway lighting in the U.S. accounts for 2 percent of overall electrical demand. Simply using energy-saving LED light bulbs would eliminate 9 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions each year, according to one estimate.
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