In case you think your electricity bill is high, Lismore City Council is set to shave almost $200,000 a year off its power bill following the installation of new, energy-efficient street lighting throughout the city area.
The proposal, which was made by Essential Energy, will pay for itself in 18 months.
In the 2010/11 year the council spent approximately $560,000 on street lighting and generated 2115 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions.
‘Street lighting [is] the single biggest electricity charge that council pays. The new lighting will not only save greenhouse gas emissions of approximately 896 tonnes per annum but will also reduce the cost of council’s energy use by more than one-third each year,’ said Council’s assets and support services manager Scott Turner.
‘The removal of the mercury-vapour lighting is also a positive outcome. The mercury contained in those lights was disposed of by Essential Energy in a responsible manner and the various metal components of the lights were recycled.’
Electricity consumption was originally identified as a significant contributor to Council’s overall emissions in the Cities for Climate Protection (CCP) program.
It is estimated that the installation of energy-efficient street lighting will represent the single biggest reduction for Lismore City Council since the CCP program commenced.
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