CH to replace too-bright streetlights with warmer alternatives

A newly installed LED streetlight in Cleveland Heights casts a harsh, bright glare over Dellwood Road.

The city of Cleveland Heights plans to replace the high-intensity, blue-toned 4K LED streetlights that FirstEnergy recently installed with warmer, lower-lumen LEDs as part of the city’s broader lighting retrofit initiative.

The lighting overhaul is part of a broader city initiative to improve sustainability, reduce energy costs, and align infrastructure with resident well-being.

The decision follows a wave of concern in Cleveland Heights and beyond about the visual and environmental impact of bright, blue-rich streetlights, which replaced the old amber-glow sodium streetlights.

Sustainability Director Andy Boatang confirmed the change—part of the city’s Energy Savings Performance Contract with Leopardo Energy.

While the existing streetlight poles and arms will remain in place, the fixtures will be upgraded where applicable to accommodate new LED bulbs that meet the new city specifications. According to Boatang, this will not be “business as usual,” and the city will determine the brightness and color temperature of the replacements. Fixture details are still under review with engineers and will be shared publicly once finalized.

FirstEnergy remains an integral part of the city’s lighting transition and will be involved in efforts to reduce ambient light pollution and energy waste.

[As of press time, the city had not answered questions related to the cost of replacing the 4K lights, including whether replacement costs are coverered under its contract with Leopardo Energy.]

In Cleveland’s Old Brooklyn neighborhood, the rollout of bright LEDs in 2019 drew pushback from residents who said the glare disrupted sleep, cast harsh shadows, and spilled into homes.

Though utility companies often promote brighter lighting as a public safety upgrade, the research is mixed. Some studies show modest reductions in certain types of crime, but others find no significant correlation. Critics argue that lighting that overwhelms public spaces or spills into bedrooms may increase discomfort without effectively deterring crime.

These concerns are especially relevant for older adults, who tend to be more sensitive to glare and struggle with visibility under high-intensity blue light. Public health and environmental groups have also raised alarms, noting that blue-spectrum LEDs can disrupt circadian rhythms in both humans and wildlife.

Even large, densely populated cities, including New York City, have begun adjusting course—replacing harsh LED lights with warmer, lower-lumen versions to improve livability while still saving energy. Cities like Tucson and Cambridge, Mass., have made similar moves.

Boatang noted, “We don’t live in a vacuum. Lighting impacts humans and animals. As we replace our lights with LEDs, we want to make sure that lighting is consistent with the science and the info we have about biological processes [as well as street safety].”

A public engagement phase is expected as the plan moves forward, with the city aiming to help residents understand how lighting decisions are being made and why.