Council has begun bulk-replacing older street lighting with more efficient LED lighting to reduce the Byron Shire’s carbon footprint and move a step closer to achieving its zero emissions target.
119 LED streetlights have been installed across South Golden Beach and Ocean Shores in recent weeks.
“Replacing 119 old streetlights with new LEDs is equivalent to taking 8 cars off the road,” Council’s Sustainability and Emissions Reduction Officer Julia Curry said.
“Streetlights are responsible for around 3.5 percent of Council’s actual operational emissions profile, so there are significant savings when you start replacing these old, inefficient streetlights with something way more environmentally friendly.
“If we were to replace all of our old streetlights with new LED streetlights, that 3.5 percent figure could be halved – and that is what we will be aiming for,” Ms Curry said.
“Considering the Shire has almost 2000 streetlights, we would be looking at saving around $150,000 per year whilst inching closer to zero emissions at the same time,” she said.
