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Those advantages include:

A Energy savings. LEDs are about 50 percent more efficient than high-pressure sodium or metal halide, 35 percent more than fluorescent and 80 percent more than incandescent, said Christopher Ruud, executive vice president for national accounts at Ruud Lighting.

B Long life. LEDs, when properly engineered, last more than five times longer than metal halide. This reduces environmental waste and also maintenance.

C They are vibration- and impact-resistant, making them virtually vandal-proof.

D They contain no mercury, unlike fluorescent bulbs.

And, when properly engineered, LED life is more than five times that of metal halide, reducing environmental waste.

E They give much truer, whiter lighting than sodium lights.

Under high-pressure sodium, which is widely used in street and parking area lighting, "Any of the dark colors all look the same," Ruud said.

But LED lighting renders true colors of cars and clothing. Asked who cares, Ruud replied, "The police care. They care a lot."