Boston Plans To Replace Gas Lamps With Energy-Saving LED Lights

BOSTON — Officials plan to replace the historic gas-powered lamps in Boston with new energy-saving LED lights as a way to cut the city's carbon emissions.

With over 2,800 gas lights throughout Boston, it costs the city almost a million dollars a year to keep them burning, 90% more than what the LED lights cost.

Similar to the gas lampposts, the new LED lights mimic real flames the city once used. Most of the lampposts can be found in Beacon Hill, Charlestown, Bay Village, Roxbury, and parts of Dorchester.

Crews have already started replacing some of the lamps in the Bay Village neighborhood of Boston.

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu expressed her excitement for the replacement plan Wednesday saying, "We don't have to choose between historical integrity and sustainability. Retrofitting Boston's gas street lamps with eco-friendly LEDs will preserve the character of our historic neighborhoods for generations to come!"

"While gas lamps comprise just 4% of those total street light fixtures, they produce 37% of the greenhouse gas emissions from the streetlights." Chris Cook, Boston's Chief of Environment, Energy, and Open Space said.

There is no word on how long it will take crews to convert all of the gas lamps throughout the city, but officials say the change will save money and cut down on carbon emissions.