Shining a light on Kingston’s greener future
As part of its work to tackle climate change and protect the environment, the council is replacing the borough’s ageing street lighting with modern LEDs which will save money and cut carbon emissions.
The council is committed to creating a greener, safer future and has been working to reduce the amount of climate changing emissions generated locally while providing essential services to residents.
Part of this work includes updating Kingston’s street light network with modern LED bulbs which use half the power of the older street lights. So far, 6160 of the borough’s 7034 old lights have been upgraded, with works set to finish by the end of 2023.
The project is expected to save £220,000 each year, based on current energy costs, and avoid around 5050 tonnes of carbon emissions over the next 25 years.
As well as using much less electricity, the new lights have a much longer lifespan compared with non-LED bulbs, saving on maintenance and inspection costs.
Councillor Ian Manders, Portfolio Holder for Climate Action and Sustainable Transport said:
“These new lights save power, save money, and save carbon emissions. They are a brilliant, green investment, with a rapid pay-back.”
The next part of the borough to undergo the upgrade is Clarence Street in Kingston Town Centre, with works taking place later in June.
The energy benefits provided by these new lights will help Kingston become a cleaner, greener borough while keeping our streets well lit, safe and maintained.