Dimming Lights - Trimming Costs
Wednesday 3rd March
As part of its ongoing commitment to tackle
climate change, Bedford Borough Council is investigating how to
reduce carbon emissions from its street lighting.
The Council is responsible for more than
14,000 street lights throughout the borough and replacing all of
them with more energy efficient lamps would cost more than
£16million.
Therefore, the Council is looking at improving
the technology used by introducing LED street lights. These have a
life expectancy of 25 years, compared to just 4 years and use
considerably less energy.
In other parts of the Borough, where
introducing LED lighting is not suitable, the Council is working
with local residents who may be in favour of changing the way
existing street lights are used.
Dimming lights along main traffic routes. This
can be aligned to traffic flows and reduces energy consumption by
25%.
Trimming street lighting. By turning on lights
10 to 20 minutes later and similarly turning off earlier around 92
burning hours can be saved per year.
Turning off lights for part of the night.
Trials are ongoing by other local authorities and the Highways
Agency for lights to be switched off, mainly in rural areas,
between midnight and 6am.
Councillor Charles Royden, Portfolio Holder
for the Environment, said: “"We are always looking
for ways in which we can cut costs for local taxpayers
and protect the environment, and being innovative with street
lighting presents an opportunity to do both.
“I would emphasise that any changes to local
street lighting will be done in consultation with local
residents. We are prepared to look at radical changes, such as
turning lights off for a period, or overnight, but only where a
community is keen to make the change.
“Whatever changes might be made, whether
lights are turned off overnight, dimmed or just come on a little
later, they will be made in partnership with local
residents.
"Any changes made to street lighting in
the Borough will help us to be more efficient in terms of how
we spend taxpayers’ money but will also help us in our efforts as
part of the national 10:10 climate change campaign."