LED traffic lights in Taiwan

Red lights in Taiwan will soon be much greener. By 2011, all traffic lights on the small island republic will be fitted with efficient LED lights thanks to a NT $229 million (US $7 million) project set to begin next year. Almost half of all traffic lights in Taiwan already use LEDs; the remaining 420,000 traffic lights will be converted over three years, providing an estimated savings of 85% in power consumption.

In addition to saving greatly on energy costs, LED traffic lights last years (standard bulbs only last months), remain brighter longer and their higher contrast levels with sunlight allow them to be viewed from longer distances. Taiwan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs plans to continue the LED work and change street lamps to efficient bulbs once the traffic signal project is complete.