Peoria is replacing its street lights with more energy efficient and longer lasting LED bulbs.

Arterial street lights on main roads currently use high pressure sodium lights, which consume more energy and have a shorter shelf life than LED lights. Janet Ramsay, manager of the city’s streets division, said the city plans to replace 3,200 street lights throughout the city.

"First phase is going to be to go through and replace all of the arterial streetlights," she said. "And we'll start the installation in September."

The project’s second phase will replace about 1,200 lights on major collector streets. The city has already replaced 700 lights in residential areas. Overall, the project is expected to cost more than $2 million.

"LED lighting is a crisper, clear white, and it shines more directly towards the ground. Whereas high pressure sodium is a more yellow amber colored light, and then it scatters more," said Ramsay.

She said the lights will save the city about $200,000 annually on operating and utility costs and that the city has already ordered all of the parts to replace more than 3,200 lights. That installment should begin in September.