Bright future for Cambridgeshire with LED rollout
Energy-saving LED lamps are set to be installed across the county to save taxpayers thousands on electricity costs.
Between May and December this year, 3,635 energy-saving LED streetlights will be installed as part of the LED lantern replacement project being carried out by Balfour Beatty on behalf of Cambridgeshire County Council.
The county-wide lighting upgrade, using the innovative technology of more effective LED and ‘white lights’, will see an estimated 60% reduction in energy usage needed to power the lights and a saving of over £100,000 per year.
Startingthis week, the energy-saving LED lanterns will be replacing existing lanterns on streetlights across the county, on all roads which have been newly adopted by the council since the street lighting PFI contract commenced in July 2011. These energy efficient lanterns will now also be specified as standard, to be installed in highway areas within any new build developments which, once completed, will belong to Cambridgeshire County Council.
The current upgrade work will replace existing lanterns, and includes the whole lighting unit head - not just the bulb. This won’t involve any excavations in the roads or footpaths, meaning little disruption for residents, and each lantern replacement will be completed within one working day.
Cambridgeshire County Council’s Chair of the Highways and Community Infrastructure Committee, Councillor Mathew Shuter said, “The benefits of the scheme will be clearly visible as the brand new streetlights use the latest technology and these more effective ‘white lights’ will minimise light pollution.
“Essential energy cost savings will be passed onto Cambridgeshire’s residents, along with the benefits of an all-important reduction in the required maintenance and associated costs, which will provide a more sustainable system for the future.”
All residents and business benefiting from the street lighting lantern replacement programme will be notified in advance and full details of the streets to be included in the upgrade programme can be viewed here.
