Energy saving lanterns light up the borough and save £500k a year

​Havering Council is seeking to cut its energy bills by around half-a-million pounds a year by converting more than 90 per cent of the borough’s street lights to Light Emitting Diode (LED). 

​In October 2013 the Council agreed to convert 6,000 street lights in residential roads to energy efficient LED lanterns, which it completed in November 2014. 

Last November, cabinet members agreed to extend the project by converting a further 10,600 street lights, which means around 92 per cent of the borough will have LED street lights, resulting in massive savings of around £462,000 a year, and significant reduction in carbon emissions. 

The estimated cost of the project is £2.7 million, which will be paid for in part by an interest free loan available to local authorities through the Salix Energy Efficiency Loan Scheme, a programme organised by the Department of Energy & Climate Change.

The remaining amount will come from existing capital budgets and Transport for London (TfL) Local Implementation Plan (LIP) funding.

The Council provides and maintains approximately 18,000 street lights across the borough and currently spends over £650k a year on electricity for street lighting.

 

The new energy saving lighting will drastically reduce costs in the borough while mitigating against inevitable rising energy prices.

 

Crucially, the new lighting will also help residents feel safer and more secure in the dark than the orange light in use now, because the white light of LED lanterns makes it easier to distinguish objects, colours, shapes and other details. 

 

The way the new LED lanterns are shaped will ensure the light is directed downwards instead of upwards into the night sky - dramatically reducing light pollution in the sky.

Councillor Robert Benham, Cabinet Member for Environment, said: 

“We know all too well how important it is to make savings at the moment, but this project has multiple benefits - it’s better for the environment and improves safety too. I’m really pleased we’re able to roll it out across the borough for more residents.”

The remaining eight per cent of lanterns are not being converted because they are in conservation areas. 

Residents who feel that the new lights are too bright and glaring directly into their homes can contact the Council, which will assess the angle and may fit a shield to deflect the light.