ENERGY STRATEGIES FOR STREET LIGHTING - CREATING BETTER VALUE?

Lancashire County Council (LCC) recently became the first UK highway authority to achieve Energy Accreditation Status from the Institute of Energy. This article reports on LCC's innovative energy management policies. It discusses the impact of external pressures on limited street lighting budgets, and offers an alternative approach to managing the energy budget. It is known that climate change will have serious consequences if no action is taken. To meet the UK's target for lower greenhouse gas emissions, the UK Government will introduce a Climate Change Levy (CCL) in April 2001. This will add about 10% to LCC's street lighting costs. Research has shown that the ratings, now used by regional electricity councils to calculate energy consumption, are too low. Photocells are now operating for longer times than those agreed in 1998. As a result of The Local Government Act 1999, 'Best Value' has become a statutory requirement on all local authorities; it will lead to more emphasis on energy use, energy purchase, energy efficiency, and energy conservation. LCC has more street lights than any other UK local authority. It plans to provide a better service by its initiatives for: (1) energy purchase; (2) monitoring of accounts; (3) power factor testing; (4) dimming; (5) green energy; and (6) lighting design.