Orange Lights on NYC Street Lamps: What Are They?

The small orange lights mounted atop New York City streetlights are photocells (also called light‑sensitive cells). Their job is simple but crucial: they automatically switch the streetlight on when ambient light falls below a certain threshold (at dusk or during heavy overcast) and turn it off when light levels rise again (at dawn).

By ensuring lamps operate only when needed, photocells play a key role in the city’s energy‑conservation efforts, reducing both electricity consumption and maintenance costs.