Council streetlights to go LED

Warrnambool will be the first city in regional Victoria to fully replace its residential streetlights with light emitting diode (LED) lamps.

The Warrnambool City Council’s (WCC) 2200 residential mercury vapour streetlights will be replaced with new energy-efficient LEDs by August.

These new lights will cut energy usage by 77 per cent compared to the existing 80-Watt mercury vapour lamps and will considerably reduce running costs.

Five Great South Coast Councils are sharing Federal Government funding of $1.4 million (of which WCC is receiving $400,000) to upgrade a combined 7500 lights.

The old mercury vapour lamps will be recycled. The LED streetlights have a life expectancy of up to 20 years.

About half of Warrnambool’s residential streetlights will be replaced by the end of May with the remainder to be completed in July and August.

WCC Coordinator City Sustainability Kristyn Abbott said from an environmental and a financial perspective, the upgrade made sense.

“Street lighting makes up 26 percent of Council’s greenhouse gas emissions,” she said.

“It is estimated the project will result in an approximate reduction of 3000 tonnes of CO2 emissions, the equivalent of removing over 600 cars off the road.

“Council’s contribution of about $700,000 to the project will be recouped in six years through the significantly cheaper running costs of LED streetlights.

“And in answer to everyone’s question, it takes two to three crew members about five minutes to change each light.”

For more information visit Warrnambool City Council