WEST JORDAN — The city is replacing approximately 5,000 traditional streetlights with LED lights, which provide improved illumination at a reduced operating cost — and shrink the city’s carbon footprint.

“The LEDs are expected to improve lighting quality, reliability and safety, while lowering maintenance costs and reducing the city’s carbon footprint,” West Jordan Mayor Kim V. Rolfe said in a statement. “It’s all part of our efforts to become more sustainable and reduce our environmental impact.”

LEDs (light-emitting diodes) are considerably smaller than traditional lights, consume less energy and have life spans of approximately 50,000 hours compared with 20,000 hours for traditional lamps, which are based on technology from the 1970s. Traditional bulbs and components generally last around four years, but LEDs come with a 10-year warranty — and many will last an average of 17-23 years, further reducing maintenance costs.

The initial investment for the fixtures and installation is about $3.7 million. Some of the costs will be offset by rebates from Rocky Mountain Power. The balance is being paid for with a bond, with payments coming from energy and maintenance cost savings. Lower energy costs alone are expected to save the city approximately $150,000 per year. No tax increase is planned.