Energy efficient streetlight scheme to be rolled out in Uttlesford
Essex County Council - Credit: Archant
Areas in Uttlesford are set to benefit from more energy efficient streetlighting as a pilot scheme is to be rolled out next year by Essex County Council.
Around 1,700 streetlights, of those that remain on all night, will be converted to LED in six Essex areas. These are Saffron Walden, Great Dunmow, Stansted Mountfitchet, Burnham, Maldon and Colchester.
During the scheme, the council will accurately measure energy savings generated compared to conventional street lighting. It will be also be able to establish optimum light settings.
The Central Management System (CMS), devised by an Essex-based company, which controls all 127,000 streetlights across the county, will be used to help manage the scheme.
The system, which is the largest of its kind in the world, can automatically dim lights to compensate for their greater brightness compared with conventional streetlighting.
Councillor Rodney Bass, Essex County Council’s cabinet member for highways and transportation, said: “LED streetlights are energy efficient and have lower maintenance costs as, reputedly, the units have a much longer life expectancy than conventional lights.
“LED lights improve visibility for drivers at night as the light emitted interacts with potential obstacles which makes them clearer to see. They also cut glare as the light is directed downward onto the roadway, reducing the amount hitting the driver’s eyes.”
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Installation of the pilot LED streetlights is expected to start early in the New Year and will use lighting units sourced from a UK-based supplier. The installation is expected to be collected for the end of March.
