Devon takes dim view to lighten load

19 January 2007

Devon is considering a significant reduction in streetlighting as part of its objective to become England’s greenest county, while Essex and Gloucestershire are pursuing similar projects.
Late-night dimming trials are under way at two sites in Exeter and Kingskerswell, and other options to save energy include part-night lighting, removal of non-essential lighting, conversion to more energy-efficient equipment, new technology and green energy supply. The council aims to slash its carbon footprint, of which 38% is produced by streetlighting energy.
A report to the council estimates that replacing 2,800 250W bulbs with 150W bulbs would result in savings of 472,000t of CO₂ a year, based on energy savings of 1.1M kWh. And although a ‘sensitive issue’, early work has started with the police to identify nighttime recorded crime, with the view to removing non-essential lighting.
David Whitton, Devon’s head of engineering and transport, said, ‘[The report] will lead to a new streetlighting policy, which builds on the good progress made to date, and continues the drive for improved energy in streetlighting.’
Gloucestershire has consulted residents and police on reducing streetlighting, and will undertake pilots in February, when lighting will be switched off from midnight to 5.30am in five locations.
Essex County Council will make a decision by the end of the month on pilots to turn off streetlights at night in the Maldon and Uttlesford districts. Tony Ciaburro, head of highways and transportation at Essex, said the council was conducting thorough research to ‘dispel the myth that turning off streetlights increases crime’.
If agreed, the pilots will begin in Maldon on 19 February, with Uttlesford set to follow in April.
Dave Coatham, technical services manager at the Institution of Lighting Engineers, backed the removal of streetlights ‘if the reason for their initial installation was no longer an issue’.
He also welcomed any dimming proposals, especially on main roads which become almost empty after rush-hour.
‘The problem is the cost of installing switch gear, but this is offset by the energy savings achieved by dimming,’ he added.
The ILE announced a set of guidelines for cost and energy savings in public lighting last year (Surveyor, 24 August 2006).

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