StreetLightNews

In Angus, Scotland, the dimming of street lights is to be trialled in order to cut the council’s carbon footprint and its electricity bills. The dimming of street lights will be trialled for a one-year period. Officials report that the dimming of street lights has the potential to cut the council’s electricity bills by 25 %.

It is unclear which company will be running the trial, but it can be confirmed that savings of more than 25 % are achievable. At the Light + Building exhibition in Frankfurt 2008, the Danish utility company Amplex demonstrated several examples of savings generated from street light dimming ranging from 26 % in Istanbul, Turkey to 35 % in Salatiga, Indonesia just to name a few projects. Similar savings have also been achieved in China, Kuwait, UAE, Malta, Denmark and Malaysia.

The Canadian company Hybridyne Power Systems and Japanese founded Panasonic have created a street light solution that is powered by both the sun and the wind. The solution features a solar panel on top of the street light pole, and a vertical-axis wind turbine positioned between the lamp’s two poles.

Since the solution is self-powered, it can be installed anywhere without expensive trenching and wiring. The low-cost solution also eliminates the problem with electricity blackouts, and it features an optional wireless video security webcam. Read more about the Kazekamome system here.

In Donnegal County, Ireland, a private company has been contracted to install a ‘hydro light‘ on the footbridge over the River Finn in Ballybofey. The new installation will feature environmental-friendly LED lights powered from batteries that are charged by a 110 watt turbine placed under the bridge. In case of the water levels in the river drop too low for the turbine to be operated, the lights will have a solar panel back up system.

The technology could also be used in a number of places other than rivers. The article reports that the technology could be used in storm sewers or in roof drainage systems on buildings. As a matter of fact, the city council is currently running a number of pilots, thus experimenting with new technologies as part of their programme for renewable and low energy lighting.

What began as a campaign by WWF to get the residents of Sydney to turn off their lights, has grown into one of the world’s biggest climate change initiatives. At 8:30 PM on March 28 2009, people around the world will turn off their lights for one hour - Earth Hour.

In 2007, 2.2 million people took part in the world’s first Earth Hour. In the following year, 50 million people worldwide switched off their lights. Earth Hour 2009 aims to reach more than one billion people around the world, whom by switching off their lights are sending a powerful global message about caring enough about climate changes to take action.

People, communities, and governments are urged to take part in the initiative. By now, more than 375 cities are committed to Earth Hour 2009. This number grows every day as people realize how a simple act, can have a profound impact on affecting change.

It is not only the lights in people’s homes, which will be turned off. Governments and communities take action as well by fading famous landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower and the Sydney Opera House into darkness. Furthermore, streetlights will be dimmed as much as safety allows.

Director General of WWF International Jim Leape explains the importance of support for Earth Hour: “When leaders gather in Copenhagen in December 2009 to negotiate a new deal on climate they must feel that the eyes of the world are upon them. Earth Hour provides an opportunity for the public to send a powerful signal that they are watching and expect action.”

Join the world and take a stand against climate changes - turn off the lights on March 28 2009 between 8:30 PM and 9:30 PM and support Earth Hour 2009.