The town of Cary, North Carolina is set to become a nationwide leader in energy efficiency. With more and more people aware of their impact on the environment, local and state governments across the United States are beginning to adopt plans to reduce the energy consumption of their cities. Recently, mayors from 10 major U.S. cities pledged to create a plan detailing how to make their commercial spaces greener, in keeping with the environmental message outlined by President Barack Obama in his State of the Union address. While this has gotten a lot of attention in the media, Cary has quietly found a way to become one of the greenest towns in the country.

Incandescent lights are now illegal to manufacture or import in the United States, though many are still used in various places, including streetlights. The inefficiency of these bulbs has spurred Cary to act. Its ambitious plan is to install 8,000 LED streetlights on municipal roadways throughout the town. The project, which is being done in partnership with energy provider Progress Energy, will replace over 80 percent of the city's streetlights with the LED bulbs.

Back in 2010, Cary received a grant from the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) program for a pilot installation of LED streetlights. The improved quality of LED bulbs and their decrease in price is what has motivated municipalities to switch to this kind of light fixture. Experts in the town estimate that it will save over $200,000 annually in electricity costs by making these upgrades. The installations are scheduled to take place over the course of one year.

Alban Inspections – a leading home inspection company – recommends the use of LED light bulbs to increase the energy efficiency of your own home.