Transport for London (TfL) has agreed on a new energy efficient lighting program to help reduce the cost of lighting the TfL Road Network (TLRN). It is one of the largest ‘invest to save’ strategic road lighting projects ever undertaken in the UK with the hopes of lowering operating costs and improving reliability.
The program will involve a new system to monitor and manage street lighting and dynamically control levels of lighting depending on use. In addition, the project will see the current ‘conventional’ lighting replaced with Light Emitting Diodes (LED).
Across London, TfL has some 52,000 street lights, and as part of the Mayor’s pledge to cut CO2 emissions, TfL has begun implementing the energy saving plan which will be delivered over the next three years.
The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said: ‘With tens of thousands of lights marking the way on our road network it makes complete sense to focus energy and resources on bringing them up to 21st century standards.”
The program will also reduce energy consumption by more than 40 per cent by 2016, compared to the current levels. TfL states that it will contribute to savings of approximately £1.85m a year and dramatically cut CO2 emissions by 9,700 tonnes a year.
Dana Skelley, Director of Asset Management at TfL, said: “The performance and cost effectiveness of energy efficient lighting has improved considerably over the last few years.”
“Our aim is to provide assets fit for the future and this program to upgrade lighting on the Capital’s busiest roads is a simple, yet hugely effective way to not only reduce carbon emissions but to also reduce costs whilst providing better lighting of our road network” she added.
Article by Lindsey Horne, appearing courtesy Celsias.
