The City of Sydney’s roll out of energy efficient LED street and park lights has saved almost $300,000 and slashed energy use by more than 25 per cent in the past 16 months, according to Ausgrid.
The NSW Government has backed the City’s work, announcing a grid-wide roll-out of light-emitting diode (LED) lighting in 41 councils across Sydney, the Central Coast and the Hunter regions.
The City has installed more than 2,600 LED lights since March last year – the first Australian council to do so – as part of a three-year roll-out of the green technology to replace 6,448 conventional lights.
Lord Mayor Clover Moore welcomed Ausgrid’s announcement, saying the City’s LED roll out would eventually save up to $800,000 a year in electricity bills and maintenance costs, and reduce carbon emissions by over 40 per cent.
“Since beginning our LED roll out in March last year, the City has saved $295,102 in public domain lighting costs, and $33,540 in maintenance fees,” the Lord Mayor said.
“LED lights have already cut energy consumption by our street and park lights by 27.6 per cent and stopped 1,547 tonnes of carbon emissions from going into the atmosphere.”
“This saving benefits the City financially, but it also helps make Sydney a cleaner, greener place for all.”
The City of Sydney is one of the largest users of street lighting in NSW, with 22,000 lights in our parks and streets. The City is responsible for 8,500 of these lights, while Ausgrid (formerly Energy Australia) maintains the remaining 13,500.
Since March last year, the City has installed 2,600 LED lights in Central Sydney, Glebe, Darlinghurst, Zetland, Pyrmont, Kings Cross, Newtown and Redfern as part of a three-year $7 million replacement plan.
The LED lights, produced by GE and being installed across Sydney by UGL Limited, produce a light that appears brighter than traditional street and park lights.
The roll out of LED lights follows a successful 18-month trial at Alexandria Park, Kings Cross, Martin Place and Circular Quay. A public survey conducted by the City reportedly found more than 90 per cent of people thought the new lighting was more appealing, and three-quarters said it improved visibility.
