Erving lights upgrade should be complete by Oct.

ERVING — The town’s energy-efficient street light upgrade project is underway and expected to be complete by the end of September.

Erving is converting its 220 high-pressure sodium street lights to light-emitting diode (LED). The project is overseen by Tanko Lighting of San Francisco, Calif. It began in August with an initial audit that identified the locations and characteristics of existing street lights. Installation began in July.

Administrative Coordinator Bryan Smith said that while HPS is one of the most common street light technologies in the country, it has several drawbacks, including not being very energy-efficient, casting an orange light under which it is difficult to see color, and tending to produce light that is not conducive to optimal viewing quality.

LED lights, on the other hand, are extremely energy-efficient, he said. They have long lifespans and produce better color and quality of light. They are a cooler white light, which makes it easier to see colors, he said. Though they appear to be dimmer, they are not, they just create a more even pool of light across the ground or roadway.

The project will also reduce the town’s energy use and, therefore, its energy costs. Smith said National Grid is calculating the estimate of savings the town will receive from the project each year. Maintenance costs are also expected to be reduced.

Dagle Electrical Construction Corporation of Wilmington is doing the installation. The project is coordinated by the Metropolitan Area Planning Council and funded by Erving and a Rapid LED Streetlight Conversion Grant from the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources.