The complete comparison: LED vs HPS across energy efficiency, CRI, lifespan, warm-up time, and total cost of ownership for street lighting, parking lots, and industrial outdoor applications.
LED street and industrial luminaires deliver 130-170 lm/W, CRI 70-90, 50,000-100,000 hour lifespans, instant-on capability, and full dimming. Modern LED area lights provide precise optical control (reduced light pollution) and are available in 2700-5000K CCT. Zero mercury, compliant with all energy regulations.
High Pressure Sodium (HPS) produces light through an electric arc in sodium vapor, creating a distinctive yellow-orange glow. Efficacy is 60-100 lm/W (with ballast). CRI is extremely poor at 20-40 — objects appear monochromatic yellow. Lifespan: 12,000-24,000 hours. Requires 3-5 minute warm-up and 1-2 minute restrike. Contains mercury. Still common in legacy street lighting but being rapidly replaced by LED.
| Parameter | 3000K Warm White | 4000K Neutral White | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| CRI | 70-90 (Ra) | 20-40 (Ra) | LED (2-4× better) |
| Efficacy | 130-170 lm/W | 60-100 lm/W | LED (50-100% better) |
| Lifespan | 50,000-100,000 hrs | 12,000-24,000 hrs | LED (3-5×) |
| Warm-Up | Instant (0 sec) | 3-5 minutes | LED |
| CCT Options | 2700-5000K | 2000K only (fixed yellow) | LED |
| Color Recognition | Good — can identify objects by color | Very poor — everything looks yellow-orange | LED |
LED wins every metric. CRI improvement = better safety. Payback 2-5 years.
Better CRI = better security camera footage. Instant-on = motion sensor compatible.
Long life + instant-on + dimming = ideal for loading docks and yards.
LED has completely superseded HPS for all new installations. The 50-70% energy savings, 3-5× longer life, instant-on capability, and dramatic CRI improvement (20-40 → 70-90) make HPS economically and functionally obsolete. The only remaining HPS advantage — lowest upfront lamp cost — is dwarfed by the operating cost difference within 1-2 years.
For 80% of B2B importers, the answer depends on the end user: If your customers are hotel chains, restaurants, or residential developers — specify 3000K CRI 90+. If they're office fit-out contractors, retail chains, or healthcare facilities — specify 4000K CRI 80+ (90+ for premium). For mixed-use developments, offer both CCT options in your product line — or recommend tunable white for adaptable spaces. When in doubt, 4000K is the safer default for commercial projects — it satisfies the broadest range of lighting standards (EN 12464-1, ASHRAE 90.1, Title 24).