Portage la Prairie's looking at ways to cut down on costs, and protect the environment at the same time.

That's from City Councillor Melissa Draycott, who says they're currently in the process of switching out some old bulbs in light standards around the city.

"Where it's appropriate our traditional light fixtures will be switched out to LED lights as required. All of our new light fixtures, for instance the active transportation pathway on Fisher Avenue, those are all LED lights. It's one of those things that cost you a little more at the beginning possibly, because the fixtures themselves tend to be a little bit more expensive. However, a better environmental standpoint, and less consumption and a longer life span."

Draycott says it's already started.

"Fisher Avenue active transportation pathway was a complete new installation of lights. So it was one of those things where it just made more sense to go to LED to begin with, and as we see more pathways around town we do hope to see more lighting go up because that makes a safer environment as well. But that's all a budget constraint thing, what pathways fit in as time goes on, and making those upgrades in the future."

She adds the City's done a great job of looking at ways to protect the environment.

"We have changed out policy on chemicals to address weed control, we no longer use chemicals to address weeds in parks and green spaces. We are looking to reduce our carbon footprint as well as a city, so there's a lot of environmental factors that we do consider policies. Mosquitoe population, we've looked at environmentally sound ways to control mosquitoes."

Draycott adds they'll replace their old light fixtures as needed.