The final phase of a project to upgrade to LED street lighting throughout the Coffs Harbour local government area will save money, energy and emissions, says the city’s council.
“The upgrade is included in our Renewable Energy and Emission Reduction Plan (REERP) and will help reach our objective of Net Zero emissions by the organisation by 2030,” said Coffs Harbour City Council’s Acting Director Sustainable Infrastructure, Andrew Beswick.
“LED globes will also improve the lighting quality and CCTV imagery, which is safer for road users and helps prevent crime.”
In 2004, Coffs Harbour became the first council in Australia to introduce energy-efficient street lighting across its entire local government area. In 2019, in collaboration with Essential Energy, Council upgraded 3,043 street lights to LED.
Council says the final phase of the LED upgrade will potentially save as much as 70% energy per street light and reduce Council’s CO2 emissions by around 558 tonnes each year.
A total of 1,307 street lights will be upgraded to LED in early 2023 at a cost of $1.26 million.
Council’s adopted Renewable Energy and Emissions Reduction Plan has two key targets:
- Net Zero emissions by the organisation by 2030/2031 (excluding landfill); and
- Landfill having a Net Zero emissions target of 2033 and 100% renewable energy.
Council says street lighting upgrades are just one of the ways that the targets will be achieved.
The other measures are:
- rolling out solar power systems throughout Council-owned facilities
- purchasing 100% renewable electricity
- energy and water efficiency in Council buildings
- switching Council’s fleet to electric vehicles powered by renewable energy
- purchasing offsets.
