LED Spend to Save - FAQ
Q. What is an LED?
LED stands for light-emitting diode - a modern lighting technology that uses a large number of highly energy efficient, tiny light emitting units (diodes) grouped together to provide a light source. They are highly efficient and environmentally friendly. The LED light source is more controllable and concentrates on where it is needed with less light pollution.
Q. Why are you replacing the streetlights?
Most of the Council’s existing street lighting uses less efficient conventional lanterns which emit the traditional forms of “orange light”. These are expensive to run in terms of electricity usage, and as manufacturers are beginning to stop making them, replacements and spare parts are harder to source, and the lights are becoming more costly to maintain.
Due to the high quality white light source of the LEDs, the new streetlights will improve visibility on our residential roads; this increased visibility has many community benefits, including the prevention of night time road accidents, the provision of a safe environment for both car drivers and pedestrians, enhanced CCTV images, assisting in the reduction of street crime and the fear of crime, and contributing to the local night time economy.
The typical lifespan of the LED streetlight is estimated to be in the region of 100,000 hours/25 years, which is a significant improvement on the current streetlights, whose lamps have a typical lifespan of 4-5 years, resulting in more costly maintenance regime requirements.
In addition to the obvious energy savings, due to the lights being vastly more efficient, the change will also have a significant impact on CO2 emissions, helping to cut the council’s carbon tax commitment.
Q. When and where will the work start and finish?
Approximately 17,600 street lights will be replaced in Moray between January 2016 and April 2021.
Work began in Findhorn, which was completed during February. Crews have also replaced the lights in Marypark and most of Dufftown, as well as commencing work in Tomintoul. We are targeting a mixture of high-wattage areas and remote areas initially, in order to carry out the work in the most cost-effective manner.
The time it takes to remove the existing, old lanterns in any one area and replace them with new LED lights will vary, depending on the number and type of lights present.
Q. How do I know when you’re going to be changing the lights on my street?
We will endeavour to keep the Streetlighting page on the Council’s website, and Councillors, updated to let you know which areas our teams are working in / planning to move to next.
Q. Will the work be disruptive?
The majority of work carried out in your area will simply be the removal of the existing lanterns and the replacement of same with LED lanterns – all works will be conducted during the daytime.
The mobile work disruption will be kept to a minimum. If you live on a residential road and we are working outside your home there may be a slight disturbance for a short period. If there are any issues gaining access to the lighting columns due to issues such as parking, we will attempt to notify the owner/s and revisit the site.
Q. Will the new light be brighter and shine into my bedroom window?
The LED light source produces a different quality of light to the old lights and it is designed to light the road and footpath only. This minimises light pollution by directing the light only to the specific areas where it is needed. There may be a perception that it is brighter because it is a different colour, but this is not the case.
As LEDs emit light in a specific direction, which is aimed at providing uniform illumination of the area to be lit, it will reduce the quantities of light pollution which you may have become familiar with.
Q. When you upgrade the light, will you be replacing the column?
In the vast majority of cases we are only replacing the lantern on top of the column. We will not remove or replace the column as part of the work, unless it has been identified as requiring replacement.
Q. Is there a health risk associated with this type of LED lighting?
There are no known health issues associated with the LED units we are using and they all meet the appropriate British Standard. LED is a low energy light source which has been used successfully and safely in the field of public lighting for several years.
Q. How can I find out more information?
Please e-mail roads.maint@moray.gov.uk or phone 0300 123 4565