Turn the lights down low: Coventry council finds novel ways to cut carbon

Coventry council has announced it will install dimmer switches on all 28,000 of the city’s street lights in a bid to cut carbon emissions and combat light pollution.

A new computerised system will allow the local authority to have much more flexibility in controlling municipal lighting, leading to large efficiency gains.

Under the system, streetlights would be kept bright during busy times and in accident black spots, but can be dimmed in the early hours when they are least needed.

Coventry is a Conservative-run council, and its adoption of this intelligent, progressive scheme should be a model for other councils – Conservative or otherwise – around the country.

It is also a sign-up to the 10:10 campaign, which encourages individuals, businesses and organisations to cut their emissions by 10 per cent during 2010.

Concerns were raised late last year that very few Tory-run councils had joined 10:10, but representation is now more evenly balanced: of councils currently signed up, 38 are Conservative-run, 31 Labour, 37 Lib Dem and 32 NOC/Independent.

Still, as a proportion of their total councils, the Tories still lag behind.

Coventry’s announcement comes as councils across the UK prepare for the start of the Carbon Reduction Commitment, a new emissions reduction and trading scheme for medium-sized emitters, which commences in April.

The council is not the first to introduce measures to tackle emissions from street lighting:

• Cornwall council is running a three-year programme to replace streetlights across the county with new adjustable bulbs, with communities free to choose how and when their lights are dimmed; and

• Last June, Wokingham Borough Council began a one-year trial of turning out selected street lights at night, aiming to save £18,000 in taxpayers’ money per every 1000 lights.

Wokingham is Conservative-controlled, whilst the Lib Dems hold Cornwall.

Some have argued that dimming streetlights will increase the likelihood of road accidents and street crime, but carefully managed, this need not be an issue.

Coventry council are not proposing to dim the lights on main roads or accident blackspots; indeed, the new scheme will enable lights to be made brighter for selected areas and times, such as after concerts and football matches.

The British Astronomical Association has long lobbied for more efficient street lighting, in order to cut light pollution and ensure Britain continues to enjoy spectacular starry nights.

Figures from their Dark Skies Campaign indicate that a countrywide deployment of more efficient streetlight designs that focus light downwards would save 830,000 tonnes of CO2.

1. Guy Shrubsole says:

   February 17, 2010 at 3:16 pm

   RT @leftfootfwd: Turn the lights down low: Coventry council finds novel ways to cut carbon: http://is.gd/8Ab8C
2. Christopher Williams says:

   February 17, 2010 at 3:26 pm

   RT @leftfootfwd: Turn the lights down low: Coventry council finds novel ways to cut carbon: http://is.gd/8Ab8C
3. Mr. Sensible says:

   February 17, 2010 at 3:31 pm

   Just disappointed that these Tory councils can’t pass this environmental message on to their Parliamentary candidates; I believe this blog reported earlier this year about how a Conservative Home poll saw Climate Change as not a priority.
   Must do better!
4. John Fellows says:

   February 17, 2010 at 5:08 pm

   ReadingList: Turn the lights down low: Coventry council finds novel ways to cut carbon: Coventry council has annou… http://bit.ly/bwZSWV
5. Darrell says:

   February 17, 2010 at 6:43 pm

   “Some have argued that dimming streetlights will increase the likelihood of road accidents and street crime, but carefully managed, this need not be an issue.

   Coventry council are not proposing to dim the lights on main roads or accident blackspots”

   Great, except crime is never likely to take place on main roads now is it? Sorry, but I think this is a moronoic idea and an example of where enviromentalism goes wrong. So definatly not an example others should follow…
6. Richard Blogger says:

   February 18, 2010 at 4:54 pm

   I live near Coventry and there is certainly an orange glow in that direction every evening. I welcome this action.

   @Mr Sensible: when the savings in electricty are published the Westminster Tories may well take notice.

   @Darrell: it all depends on what crimes you are talking about. In terms of burglary it is irrelevant because burglars will find the areas that are not lit anyway. If you are talking about attacks on people (mugging, rapes) then clearly the council will have to think carefully about the lighting of places where people walk.

   However, notice the wording “can be dimmed in the early hours”. Street lights are at a level of brightness for driving. For a pedestrian the level of lighting does not have to be so high.

   I am of an open mind, but I would be keen to see whether the crime figures change due to this policy.
7. Look Left – The Week in Fast Forward | Left Foot Forward says:

   February 19, 2010 at 6:19 pm

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