POST FALLS - Area cities are making the switch to LED lights as one of the ways to lighten budget woes.

Post Falls is already realizing energy savings from switching its traffic signals to LED lighting, but is also working on a proposal to install it at its facilities.

Post Falls and Coeur d'Alene are having audits done of the cities' entire lighting system to see if it's a viable option.

"LED lighting is miles ahead of incandescent and even compact fluorescent lighting," said City Administrator Eric Keck. "They do not require expensive ballasts to turn the lights on. This means instant on and off and the LED lights do not heat up very hot like the CFL or incandescent bulbs do.

"They use significantly fewer watts and this is what saves electricity."

LED (light-emitting diode) lights also last longer, so there's less maintenance of changing bulbs and ballasts, and are more environmentally friendly.

But LED lights cost a lot more - a 60-watt incandescent bulb costs about $1.25, CFL $3.95 and LED $30 - but local utilities are offering incentives that cover up to 50 percent of the cost.

"As more demand occurs with LED, the cost will go down," Keck said.

Keck said the city is awaiting results from its facilities lighting audit, but will likely start with an LED lighting pilot project in the City Hall parking lot and surrounding street lights.

The City Council would need to approve an agreement on the move and it would likely go to bid.

"The energy cost savings are incredible and the return on investment from retrofitting the current metal halide and CFL bulbs would pay for itself in less than a year," Keck said. "However, we will need to wait and see the results of the energy audit to see what type of payback we would really achieve with this technology."

Post Falls also plans to have green power equipment installed at City Hall next week by Satic, a Missoula-based company that recently expanded to Post Falls, to save on energy costs.

The total cost for labor and equipment will be nearly $4,000. That amount in savings is expected to be recouped in less than a year, Keck said.

"According to their corporate literature and testing, the average utility bill savings on electricity has been 15 percent," Keck said. "They guarantee 10 percent in their installation agreement.

"The technology has applications for every type of structure that utilizes electricity."

The technology also reduces heat that damages electrical equipment such as computers, motors and pumps over time.

In another sustainable project, a private engineer is working with investors to propose a hydroelectric project at the city's wastewater treatment plant. The city has told the engineer that it can't help fund the project.

Troy Tymesen, Coeur d'Alene's finance director, said what will be done in that city depends on the energy audit. The city recently received a grant for $191,700 from the Department of Energy to incorporate energy saving devices.

"The city has started replacing lamps in the decorative street lights in the downtown Sherman area with LED lights," Tymesen said. "We have also started changing the green traffic signal lights, which are incandescent, to LED lamps."

Coeur d'Alene also has laptop control of HVAC systems in several buildings and has installed motion sensor light switches.

Rathdrum City Administrator Brett Boyer said that city is also exploring LED street lights.

"We think that will be a great way to save money," he said.

Rathdrum has also installed economizers on heating units, is moving to more efficient fluorescent lighting in its buildings and will install more insulation in its parks and recreation building as a result of an audit.