LED Lighting Depot's Hannah Trafford reveals how one local council is slashing emissions and energy bills
Bath & North East Somerset Council are currently celebrating the achievement of being the first local authority in the United Kingdom to convert all main road lights to LED Technology.
The accomplishment is expected to cut energy use by more than 1.5 Kilowatt Hours (Kwh) and to add to this, the council is expected to make savings of around £200,000 a year in electricity bills.
As far as the environment is concerned, carbon emissions are expected to be cut by over 780 tonnes, which is the equivalent to three per cent of the Council's total energy consumption.
Included in the changeover are intelligent lighting lanterns, which adjust their output in accordance with the level of traffic on the road at any time. The council have also added LED lighting on all 108 zebra crossings, which will further reduce energy usage by another 77,000Khw per year.
At a time when the British Government is cutting funding to local councils, it is thought that LED lighting innovations shall be welcomed by other local authorities across the country.
Councillor Caroline Roberts of Newbridge, Cabinet Member for Transport said: "Instead of turning-off street lights like many other town halls, Bath & North East Somerset Council has used the latest technology to keep them on and save the local taxpayer tens of thousands of pounds on energy costs, cutting our carbon footprint in the process.
"The numbers involved in this project were truly staggering. We've worked hard in partnership with the private sector, particularly Philips, to deliver a success that will benefit local people because the savings allow us to protect frontline services."
The project has also been recognised by the Local Government News Street Design Awards 2013, as a winner in the public lighting category.
The award ceremony is set to be held in July 2013.
This article has been written by Hannah Trafford from LED Lighting Depot.
