Street lights across Bass Coast and South Gippsland Shires will shine more sustainably thanks to a switch to energy efficient light globes.

The Sustainable Street Light Project to replace almost 4,000 light bulbs will begin to roll out next week, with each of the existing 80-watt mercury vapour lights to be replaced with T5 fluorescent bulbs, which are 60 per cent more energy efficient.

South Gippsland Mayor, Kieran Kennedy, and Bass Coast Councillor, Bradley Drew, met in Inverloch this week to get a firsthand look at the new bulbs and see how the old lights will be replaced.

Cr Drew said the project will save Bass Coast up to $100,000 in electricity bills and cut carbon emissions by about 50 per cent of its current street light emissions every year – the equivalent of taking around 200 cars off our roads.

He also said the new lights would provide a safer environment for community members at night, with more light directed to the ground where it is needed instead of into the sky.

“These new bulbs will be more efficient in lighting up our streets, meaning people will feel safer out in the streets after dark,” Cr Drew said.

“We do have an elderly population in Bass Coast, and I believe having better lit streets will make it much easier to travel at night, whether it be on the footpath or on our roads.”

Cr Kennedy praised the project for saving both councils money and reducing emissions, and for the partnership between South Gippsland and Bass Coast.

“Councils are working together to ensure smaller, regional councils can utilise economies of scale through a ‘bulk buy’ and a ‘bulk install’,” Cr Kennedy said.

“And of course, any money saved is a benefit for ratepayers, with the project saving South Gippsland up to $50,000 in electricity bills and maintenance costs every year.”

The new lights will cut South Gippsland’s carbon emissions by around 400 tonnes every year.”

The project received $464,559 of combined funding from the Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency as part of the Community Energy Efficiency Program and councils contributed a combined $1.8 million.

Overhead Maintenance Services have been awarded the contract for the project, which will be carried out over the next three years to reduce the budget impact.

For more information http://www.basscoast.vic.gov.au/Home