Did you know?

The streetlights in Shropshire consume 8.7 million kWh of energy and produce 4,800 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year.

Shropshire Council is committed to carbon reduction and making Shropshire greener.

The part night lighting programme aims to reduce this figure by up to 1,000 tonnes per year, around 21% of our current street lighting emissions.

In addition, the following carbon reduction methods are in use or are being trialled in Shropshire.

Dimming/variable lighting

There is now the option to dim lights (to approximately 50% of light level) after midnight rather than switch off. This is only applicable to the more powerful lanterns (those on major roads) and therefore only to a small percentage of our street lights. We will be looking at dimming all the appropriate streetlights as part of our replacement programme.

Trimming street lighting

By having more precise photo electric cells (light meters) we can turn the lights on ten minutes later at night and turn them off earlier in the morning. This can save around 92 burning hours per year. All new installations should include trimming as standard.

Electronic conversion

Savings are already being made by converting 35 watt low power lamps
(orange lights) to electronic switchgear and by using more effective photoelectric cells, which reduce switch-on times and use less energy. The programme for all applicable streetlights will be completed by April 2014.

LED

Trials are currently underway in Shrewsbury, Church Stretton and Bridgnorth using LED lanterns. Although LED streetlights can make a substantial saving in energy costs as well as a reduction in carbon emissions, the capital outlay is currently considered too expensive. However, as the price of LED lanterns drops over the
next few years this may become a viable option in the future.

For more information on how Shropshire Council is working to reduce carbon emissions please follow the link to our Carbon Management Programme.

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