A story in a national newspaper told the story of how a number of council over the UK are dimming the road lighting in attempts to save money. The Daily Telegraph reports that one in 10 street lights are gradually darkened through the night or stopped altogether in an attempt to save money on energy bills. A number of local authorities are having their public spending budgets cut in an endeavour to reduce the country’s debts and consequently, the councils are now in search of ways to cut costs.
Cllr Peter Box, chairman of the Local Government Association’s Economy and Transport Board, says that at times of challenging financial pressure, councils should look for ways to cut costs and save taxpayers’ money but without minimizing public safety. He claims that by doing this, it doesn’t affect frontline services like fixing potholes, child protection and collecting bins. And if councils dimmed their own pendant lighting and bathroom wall lighting in buildings, they could reduce costs even further.
It is suggested that if UK authorities turn off a mere 9% of their LED lighting they can conserve a massive £21.5 million per year but the schemes put in place to reduce the street lighting is really priced at five times more than saving and is a staggering £106.3 million, so initially it will be more expensive to save. The pricey schemes comprise of technology to gradually reduce the amount of light given off being installed along with switching lights to part-night operations; however some councils will not see a return on investment or gain any advantages for almost a decade. But if councils can save money, you could too with their garden lighting and bathroom lighting.
Breakdown cover company AA has released a warning about the proposal, declaring that factors need to be considered as well lit areas are frequently recommended as a protective crime measure. But the head of road safety, Andrew Howard, has reported that the dimming of wall lighting and street lights for part of the evening is a far better option than getting rid of them altogether. Councils have been advised by the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety that they must keep an eye on traffic in the areas and have a clear reason for softening or removing the outdoor lighting.
The number of councils across the UK contemplating the plan is growing as well as the amount of homeowners with their garden lights or kitchen lighting. Bedford Borough Council is holding a trial of temporarily switching off 83-lights between the hours of midnight and 5am to help save £383 a year. And Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council has said it plans to dim 4,500-lights between 10pm and 6am for one year too. Furthermore, Derbyshire County Council has expressed interest in getting included and switching off lights between the hours of midnight and 5:30am to help save £400,000 a year; and Leeds City Council is also preparing to remove 8,000 lights over the next three years. Moreover, Warwickshire County Council has said it will start to begin to shut down 80% of its 48,500 street lights at the beginning of next year.
However, many authorities in cities have decided not to become immersed in the scheme with Birmingham, Manchester and almost all of London boroughs not turning off their tiffany lighting. Denbighshire Council in Wales has stated that the payback time is too much and Croydon Council argue that they decided never to dim the street lights.
Just like the councils, you can cut your energy bills too by dimming the chandeliers and wall lights. Try and turn the bathroom lights and kitchen lights off when no one is in the room to be eco-friendly and encourage the children to appreciate how costly modern lighting rates can be. Many bathroom spotlights can now be bought that are low energy rated.
