I had read about about this when Ann Arbor, MI converted all their downtown lights to LEDs. This issue obviously needs to be addressed. That being said, the energy savings of LEDs is significant - they use 90% less than incandescent bulbs!
Slightly switching gears, I recently converted our most frequently used lights in our home to LEDs with the help of my friends at illumigarden. The light is fantastic, better than the incandescent bulbs that I replaced. If you have not tried an LED bulb, I would strongly encourage you do do so.
Here is a link to a site called Productdose.com that has good information and comparisons on Incandescent, CFL and LED bulbs. While LEDs are more expensive, they last 60,000 hours compared to 10,000 hours for CFLs and only 1,500 for incandescent bulbs. And if you live in San Francisco or Marin, stop by and see Michael or George at illumigarden. They can help you and give you some samples to test in your home.
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Cities around the country that have installed energy-efficient traffic lights are discovering a hazardous downside: The bulbs don't burn hot enough to melt snow and can become crusted over in a storm — a problem blamed for dozens of accidents and at least one death.
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Many communities have switched to LED bulbs in their traffic lights because they use 90 percent less energy than the old incandescent variety, last far longer and save money. Their great advantage is also their drawback: They do not waste energy by producing heat.
Authorities in several states are testing possible solutions, including installing weather shields, adding heating elements like those used in airport runway lights, or coating the lights with water-repellent substances.
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