Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council is upgrading 960 streetlights to more efficient LED technology. Photo: Mamun Srizon.
Ratepayers in the Cootamundra-Gundagai local government area are expected to save hundreds of thousands of dollars in electricity costs and reduce greenhouse gas emissions thanks to a new energy efficiency initiative.
Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council (CGRC) has begun switching 960 streetlights to more efficient LED technology.
The move represents a 247 MWh per year reduction in power use and annual savings of about $60,000 in maintenance and electricity.
The existing high-energy lights in the Cootamundra-Gundagai region consume between 50 and 100 watts, but the new LED streetlights will consume around 17 watts.
CGRC Mayor Charlie Sheahan said the LED upgrade was just one of the council’s initiatives to become more sustainable and achieve energy and operational efficiency.
“Streetlighting is a significant expense for council, costing around $130,000 each year,” Cr Sheahan said.
“The upgrade will go a long way to reducing costs and providing significant long-term savings with more than 960 streetlights across council’s footprint.
“LEDs are far more energy efficient, require less maintenance and have a significantly longer life.”
Cr Sheahan said the council was investing about $522,000 to complete the bulk upgrade with the costs expected to be recouped within nine years, excluding increases in electricity prices.
Essential Energy streetlight manager Hamish Wheatley said the organisation was responsible for the maintenance and billing of more than 160,000 streetlights serving more than 85 councils across NSW and parts of southern Queensland.
“Public lighting plays an important role in providing safe, secure and attractive public areas for both pedestrians and motorists,” Mr Wheatley said.
“The new LED streetlighting for Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council will provide a more reliable, better quality lighting service and deliver savings of more than 48 per cent in energy consumption.
“This type of light also provides a future potential for other ‘smart’ applications to be added and will allow Essential Energy to more effectively manage the streetlight network and respond more promptly to potential outages.”
He said Essential Energy would ensure the successful delivery of the project with input from the Southern Lights NSW Project.
In 2020, the council installed solar panels in the workshop at the CGRC works depot in Gundagai, the dressing sheds at Anzac Park and Stan Crowe oval canteen.
Council also helped the Gundagai Men’s Shed with a grant for solar panels.
Loading ...
