Council and Endeavour Energy roll out street light upgrade

10 January, 2018Posted in: Environment
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Wingecarribee Shire Council and Endeavour Energy have joined together on a program to replace the Shire’s outdated street lights with energy efficient light-emitting diode (LED) fittings.

The replacement program is one of the first such joint-projects between Endeavour Energy and a Local Government Authority in NSW.

Council’s Environment and Health Systems Coordinator, Therese Smart said the project will provide significant benefits to the shire.

“Street lighting makes up around 15 per cent of Council’s total energy consumption,” she said.

“This project will help us slash this consumption and is anticipated to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 632 tonnes per year!”

“The project started in September last year and once completed we’ll have replaced approximately 2,490 old street lights with new energy efficient LED lights,” Ms Smart said. “This is around half of Council’s street lights.”

The new 17 watt LED fixtures are located in predominantly residential streets throughout the Shire’s towns and villages.

“LED street lighting is relatively new in Endeavour Energy’s network,” Ms Smart added, “And not all street lighting can be replaced with LED’s at this time.”

“The LED lighting being installed has undergone extensive testing by Endeavour Energy and is proven to be suitable for the chosen locations.”

The replacement project has been made possible by incentives provided through the NSW State Government’s Energy Savings Scheme.  This scheme encourages businesses to achieve savings by replacing, improving or installing energy saving equipment.

The joint street light replacement program complements earlier Council lighting efficiency projects undertaken at the Moss Vale Civic Centre, Bowral Library and Boronia Park in Hill Top.

Other energy related projects undertaken by Council include the installation of solar panels at Council’s Moss Vale Aquatic Centre, Resource Recovery Centre, the Southern Highlands Welcome Centre, Bowral Library and the Mittagong Rural Fire Service Building.

“Energy projects such as this demonstrate Council’s commitment to reducing our electricity consumption and our reliance on fossil fuels,” Ms Smart said.