Street Lamps Go LED To Save Money


As £4.3m borough-wide LED lighting upgrade goes underway

Street lamps across the borough are being replaced with energy-efficient LED lights. The replacement programme, which started this month (September 2017), will see almost 16,000 lightbulbs replaced. It will cost £4.3m but is expected cut £400,000 a year off the council’s electricity bill, plus savings in bulb replacement costs. Over 25 years, Wandsworth is expected to save £11m.

The borough-wide programme follows a successful trial last year. Bulb replacement across the whole borough is expected to be completed by the end of 2018.

The lights use around 50 per cent less energy, have lower running costs and last an average of 25 years, compared to about six years for traditional bulbs. They are designed to produce the same lighting levels as the existing bulbs, but are able to be dimmed on residential roads while still remaining bright enough for roads to remain safe.

The council’s community services spokesman Cllr Jonathan Cook said: “This project will deliver savings for our council tax payers, reduce our carbon footprint and deliver better lighting, so it’s win-win. We feel the time is right for this project because LED technology has come on in leaps and bounds recently. We’re confident our new street lights will be cost-effective while keeping our roads safe and well-lit.”

If you spot a broken street light, you can report it online.

September 29, 2017