Posted: 12/14/2010 12:28:23 PM PST

PASADENA — A new LED lighting project at the Pasadena Central Library will save the city thousands of dollars, according to a joint release from LEDtronics, the Torrance–based company that installed the new fixtures and the city of Pasadena.

Each of 30 reworked pendant fixtures will allow the city to save about 788 watts in weekly operations — resulting in an annual savings of about 50,000 KwH.

The pendant lighting installation covers the library’s grand hall and adjoining wings, explained Central Library spokeswoman Catherine Haney.

“The install was very quick and efficient,” she said. “The new LED lights make a huge difference... it’s much brighter, and our customers are really enjoying it.”

Haney added that the building, designed by Myron Hunt, "has a great deal of wood in it — with normal lighting it was very dark, so this has just made a fantastic improvement."

LEDtronics CEO Pervaiz Lodhie noted in a statement that the new 95–watt LED cluster fixtures replaced the library’s old, 900–watt system — resulting in a 90 percent reduction of energy consumption.

"Not only does the LED lighting in the pendant fixtures save greatly on power but because of the low heat they generate, the room temperature is dramatically reduced so as to save on the air–conditioning cost," Lodhie explained.

The installation also included a 17–watt LED lamp at the top of the pendant fixtures to light the high ceiling.

The new, longer–lasting lights will also save the money typically spent on periodic bulb and ballast replacement.