According to a national newspaper, many types of council across the UK are dimming the road lighting in order to save money. The Daily Telegraph reports that one in 10 street lights are being darkened overnight or turned off completely in a bid to save cash on energy bills. Many local authorities are having their public spending budgets cut in an effort to reduce the country’s debts and as a result, the councils are now seeking ways to slash costs.
Cllr Peter Box, chairman of the Local Government Association’s Economy and Transport Board, says that in times of difficult financial pressure, councils should look for ways to make savings and save taxpayers’ money but without reducing public safety. He claims that by doing so, it doesn’t impact frontline services like filling potholes, child protection and collecting bins. And if councils dimmed their own pendant lighting and bathroom wall lighting in buildings, they could cut costs even more.
It is claimed that if UK authorities turn off just 9% of their LED lighting they can save a massive £21.5 million per year but the schemes implemented to reduce the street lighting is actually costing five times more than saving and is a staggering £106.3 million, so initially it will rate more to save. The expensive schemes comprise of dimming technology being installed as well as converting lights to part-night operations; however some councils will not see a return on investment or gain any benefits for up to eight years. But if councils can save money, so can homeowners too with their garden lighting and bathroom lighting.
Breakdown cover firm AA has issued a warning about the proposal, claiming that considerations need to be taken on-board as lucent places are often advised as a preventative crime measure. But the head of road safety, Andrew Howard, has said that the dimming of wall lighting and street lights for part of the night is a far better alternative than removing them altogether. Councils have been told by the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety that they need to monitor traffic in the areas and have a clear reason for softening or switching off the outdoor lighting.
The number of councils across the UK considering the plan is increasing as well as the amount of homeowners with their garden lights or kitchen lighting. Bedford Borough Council is running a trial of turning off 83-lights between midnight and 5am to save £383 a year. And Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council has said it intends to dim 4,500-lights between 10pm and 6am for one year too. Furthermore, Derbyshire County Council is thinking about getting involved and switching off lights between midnight and 5:30am to save £400,000 a year; and Leeds City Council is also planning to turn off 8,000 lights over the course of three years. Moreover, Warwickshire County Council has said it will start to turn off 80% of its 48,500 street lights at the start of 2012.
However, many authorisations in cities have decided not to become immersed in the scheme with Birmingham, Manchester and most of London boroughs not turning off their tiffany lighting. Denbighshire Council in Wales has said that the payback period is too great and Croydon Council argue that they made a decision never to dim the street lights.
Just like the councils, you can save money on the energy bills too by dimming the chandeliers and wall lights. Try to turn the bathroom lights and kitchen lights off when not in use to be eco-friendly and encourage the children to appreciate how expensive modern lighting rates can be. Many bathroom spotlights can now be purchased that are low energy rated.
