Council dims street lights in bid to reduce costs (From The Northern Echo)

Council dims street lights in bid to reduce costs

12:10pm Friday 17th July 2009 in Search

STREET lights along a busy road are being dimmed, as part of a pilot project which could save money and help the planet.

Durham County Council is testing a system which allows lights to be dimmed by up to 30 per cent between midnight and 5am on a three-mile section of the A167 in Chester-le-Street.

Use depends on traffic, while lights at roundabouts and major intersections are kept at full power.

The scheme could be extended across large parts of the county, producing large savings and cuts in carbon emissions.

Wilf Newall, the council’s street lighting manager, said: “With 86,000 street lights and illuminated traffic signs, street lighting is one of our biggest energy costs. Some councils have decided to switch off street lights but we are looking to technology to help us achieve savings and reduce carbon emissions.

“This system lets us do this by reducing light levels at particular times, rather than switching lights off altogether.”

The system, called Leafnut, has been designed by West Yorkshire-based Harvard Engineering. It also allows lights to be checked for faults using the internet, removing the need to send out night patrols.

It has the potential to save up to £46 in energy costs and 100kg of carbon emissions per light.

Lights in Framwellgate Peth, Durham, are already dimmed during the night.