Torbay Council has introduced a new LED lighting scheme to reduce energy consumption on main roads in Torbay, with an interest free loan from Salix, a public sector fund that gives interest free loans for energy efficient projects, for £515,000.

15000 street lights will be converted to LED with dimming functions that will save £97,000 per year from the council’s electricity bill and 435 tonnes of carbon. Around 800 of the newer lanterns in Torbay will be converted to white light and be dimmed during the night hours.

The contract was awarded to GE Lighting through the council’s competitive tendering programme, and will start on site at the end of September for completion by the end of December this year.

Councillor Robert Excell, Torbay Council’s Executive Lead for Safer Communities, Highways, Environment and Sport said: “We are committed to saving money and saving the environment at the same time, so this new LED scheme is a win-win project all round. It’s good to see how technology can be developed that offers the best value to the local residents and gives us the assurance that it’s helping us cut our carbon emissions as a council as well.”

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