Lights on efficiency

THE City of Casey is flicking the switch on its current street lights to upgrade to a more energy efficient option.
The council will save about $700,000 annually in street lighting costs once it completes its project to replace 9200 mercury vapour lights with energy efficient LED ones across the municipality.
Casey mayor Geoff Ablett said this was the largest environmentally sustainable project ever undertaken by the council and was expected to reduce the associated street lighting energy use by 77 per cent each year.
“It will also reduce council’s street lighting greenhouse gas emissions by around 75,100 tonnes over the 20-year life of the assets,” he said.
“This is equivalent of taking 17,400 cars off the road each year.
“The City of Casey is leading the way in reducing greenhouse emissions and responding to climate change by investing in greener lighting technology.”
The project will begin in late-2014 and will be completed by mid-2016.
Cr Ablett said the works would be undertaken in stages covering different areas of the municipality and would have a minimal impact on parking and traffic flow.
“While there are some clear benefits for council, residents will also notice a greater uniformity of lighting levels along the street and better visibility for pedestrians at night,” he said.
The council contributed $3.1 million towards the replacement program and received funding of $1.3 million from the Australian Government.