A bright idea to slash energy use and emissions

Council is making a gradual switch to LED (light-emitting diode) lighting to cut power costs and reduce emissions.
 
Plumbing and Building Services Manager Allan Hazell said LEDs were now lighting up much of Council’s Tewantin chambers.
 
“Switching the Tewantin building’s fluoro lights to LEDs has slashed lighting costs by a third and cut emissions in half,” Mr Hazell said.
 
Sensors turn off lights automatically in rooms that aren’t in use, while new LED lights along the building’s exterior have reduced running and repair costs by thousands of dollars a year.
 
“We can recoup the cost of installing LED lights within two years. LED lights have a lower wattage, making them cheaper to run without sacrificing brightness,” Mr Hazell said.
 
Public toilets, street and carpark lights are also in Council’s sights.
 
LED lighting will debut on the Hastings Street Christmas tree this year, in a combined project with the Hastings Street Association. Council is also trialling solar lights at several sites.
 
LED lighting is one of the ways Council is reducing its emissions and cutting energy costs, having called in climate experts Dr Stephen Bygrave and Michael Lord from Beyond Zero Emissions for advice.

16 September 2016