The future looks bright, but it’s going to be expensive. In an effort to mitigate costs and cut emissions, many cities are switching to more eco-efficient methods of power to light streets and roadways. But this power isn’t coming in for cheap. As the city of San Jose, California, is learning, being nice to Mother Earth comes with a pretty hefty price tag.

An April 26, 2009, Wall Street Journal article details how officials in San Jose are experimenting with LED lights as a way of reducing their energy bill. Their target: street lamps. The city plans on installing 125 LED street lamps by this summer, which could save them 10-60% in utility payments. The main advantage of these lamps is that they can be set to certain conditions, producing fewer or more light on command. This means that at times when less light is needed, the lights can be dimmed. Although these energy savings sound like a sweet deal, are they worth the price? A single LED light costs $600, while a traditional sodium-vapor lamps cost $200; replacing thousands of street can cost millions of dollars. So what should eco-conscious cities do?

Turn to the sun. The use of solar panels has become an increasingly popular solution to sky rocketing energy bills. And with California averaging 160 days of sun a year, it may not be the “Sunshine State”, but I’m sure 50% sunshine year around will suffice. Although there is no guarantee that the installation cost solar power lights will be less expensive than LED lights, they will use solely renewable energy, which will reduce energy bills in the long run. Companies such as OK Solar and Solar Illuminations have a variety of solar street lights available for both residential and commercial purposes.

San Jose is definitely worthy of a high-five for looking for energy alternatives with LED lights in a time when we are ever more dependent on fossil fuels. But despite the LED efficiency appeal, the cost might not be an attractive part of this deal, especially with many cities tightening their wallets. Using solar panels might be a cheaper alternative and will be especially beneficial for sunny states such as California. So, when in doubt, look to the sun. Just don’t stare too hard…you might hurt your eyes.