(TNS) -- The world’s busiest airport by passenger volume has added another superlative: first to switch all runway and taxiway lights to energy-saving LED technology.

The airport said the change involved more than 16,000 lights at Hartsfield-Jackson International. They previously used halogen bulbs.

The $15.9 million project wrapped up last month and earned the airport rebates from Georgia Power, with the first of two rebates valued at $45,901.

The utility offers a rebate of 20 cents per watt reduced through its commercial energy efficiency program.

The new LEDs last up to 200,000 hours, reducing the number of times bulbs on the airfield burn out and need to be replaced, according to Hartsfield-Jackson.

Georgia Power estimates the airport may save more than 2 million kilowatt-hours annually. The airport has also installed LED lights in its parking garages

The moves are part of an initiative by Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed to make Hartsfield-Jackson “one of the nation’s greenest airports,” according to Michael Smith, senior deputy general manager at the Atlanta airport.

©2015 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (Atlanta, Ga.) Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.