WORK will start in January to switch more than 5000 streetlights in Lake Macquarie to more efficient LED lamps.
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Ausgrid is partnering Lake Macquarie City Council on the project.
“These new LEDs are more energy efficient, easier to maintain and will last up to 20 years,” Ausgrid’s chief operating officer Trevor Armstrong said.
“It can take up to 95 watts to power older streetlights whereas the new LEDs use just 17 watts.”
Initially, 5609 streetlights across the city will be switched to LED lamps.
The council said there were plans for LED lamps to replace all streetlights across the city over several years.
“Our accelerated replacement of streetlights with LEDs is the first of its kind and Ausgrid is proud to be playing a leading role in this area,” Mr Armstrong said.
The project would lower council’s carbon emissions by 1600 tonnes a year, he said.
Switching to LEDs would also provide an annual energy saving of 1500 megawatt hours.
It’s the latest initiative embraced by the council in its bid to reduce the city’s carbon footprint, save ratepayers money, and preserve the local environment.
In July, the council oversaw the launch of the Lake Macquarie Organics Resource Recovery Facility, at Awaba, where Remondis unveiled a Hunter-first centre which recycles the city’s food and green waste into high-quality compost products, diverting up to a third of household waste from landfill.
And solar panels installed on council buildings such as its administration centre, Speers Point Swim Centre, Toronto Multi-Purpose Centre, Bolton Point Community Hall, and Lake Macquarie City Art Gallery are estimated to be saving ratepayers about $156,000 in power costs every year.
Mayor Kay Fraser said the LED rollout would reduce Lake Macquarie’s street lighting energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions by 25 per cent, while reducing electricity and maintenance costs.
“This project will help us on the road to reduce our city’s greenhouse gas emissions and reach our environmental targets,” Cr Fraser said.
Ausgrid maintains 250,000 streetlights on behalf of councils in parts of Sydney, the Central Coast, and Hunter. It is in continuing talks with other local councils about extending the accelerated rollout of LEDs.