Councils - Dont Dim Street Lights! Switch to Low-Energy LEDs Instead

New Labour party research has found that street lights across the country are being dimmed during the evenings as a cost-cutting measure by local councils. As many as 75% of the UK’s local councils are dimming or even extinguishing lights altogether, leaving many public areas totally unlit during the dark evenings throughout winter.

In light of the revelations, light bulb retailers BLT Direct are speaking out to encourage local councils to think ahead. Though dimming their existing lights might trim the electricity bills in the short-term, there are real long-term savings to be made by switching to super-efficient LED light bulbs. By consuming up to 90% less energy than regular bulbs, they can cut electricity bills significantly and put money back in the pockets of local authorities – if they have the foresight to invest in them today.

The AA has already spoken out against the move to dim lights, saying darker streets are contributing to an increased number of car accidents – but with council budgets being slashed, experts say there are tough decisions to be made regarding where money should be spent.

Steven Ellwood, Managing Director of BLT Direct, says, “It’s a real shame that councils are resorting to dimming their lights to save money – especially when such extensive research and development has led to the advanced, efficient lighting solutions we have on offer today. We’ve seen many examples of councils rolling out low-energy schemes that have been a huge success, and the projected savings are highly impressive. Over the coming years, we hope to see more councils converted to the benefits of low-energy lighting, which provide high-quality light output at a 90% energy reduction.”

The major obstacle to councils installing LEDs or other efficient light bulbs in public areas is said to be the initial cost. LEDs are more expensive than traditional halogen or incandescent bulbs – and to install the bulbs across an entire city or borough could be costly. But the project savings are immense – not only in lower electricity bills, but also in the reduction in necessary maintenance work. LED and other energy-saving light bulbs have much longer lifespans than older bulbs, and therefore need to be changed less regularly.

BLT Direct has long been a proponent of switching to energy-saving light bulbs, and their vast collection of products offers something for every type of client – whether they’re a local authority looking for a wholesale solution, or a domestic client searching for ways to lower their home energy bills.